ABSTRACT
Auditory warnings and displays take many forms. There are many characteristics and features associated with the technology of auditory displays, such as intensity, frequency, attention-getting ability, psychological salience and noise penetration ability. This chapter illustrates some of the problems typically encountered with auditory warnings. One unquestionable benefit of auditory warning and display systems is that they present a means of unburdening the visual channel. Auditory alarm and warning displays are commonplace, and may be divided loosely into four classes of areas of application. These are personal devices, transport, military and central control rooms. Typically work in applied areas of warning and display design has focused on the early stages of detection and interpretation. The chapter focuses on the effects of noise on performance as it is likely to be the most important practical and research issue in relation to noise and auditory warnings and displays. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
