Headphones

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Earphones, Earphone, Headset, Audio Guide, Audio Guides

Category

Public Facilities, Equipment, Concessions

Message / Function

For notice in general and to identify a socket, terminals or switch for headphones
To indicate the availability of recorded spoken commentaries

	Source	Description
	LGAA	Frontal view of headphones with headband and several details, player and two pluses inbetween
	Selot Lo	Frontal view of headphones with headband in outline, jagged line inbetween indicating sound
	Sunrise	Frontal view of headphones with headband and several details, arcs inbetween indicating sound
	etika ariatna	Frontal view of headphones with headband in outline, lines inbetween indicating sound
	M+	Frontal view of headphones with large pads, headband as massive arc
	Hora III:EL	Frontal view of headphones with massive headband, large pads inbetween
	Kunstmuseum Basel	Frontal view of headphones with headband, pads in outline
	BS 8501:2002	Frontal view of headphones with headband
	Dong Gyu Yang	Frontal view of headphones with headband and several details
	Uswa KDT	Frontal view of headphones with headband and several details
	Erco	Frontal view of earmuffs with thin headband and some details
	Belvedere	Frontal view of headphones with headband
	CNIS	Frontal view of headphones with headband
	Handbuch wien.gv.at	Frontal view of headphones with headband, pads in outline
	IEC 60417	Frontal view of headphones with headband, pads in outline
	IEC 60417	Frontal view of headphones with headband, pads in outline, two overlapping circles inbetween

Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.

Discussion

We combined the two messages Headphones, e.g. intended to identify a socket, terminals or switch for headphones, and Audio Guides, to indicate the availability of recorded spoken commentaries. Searching the web for pictograms regarding these two messages, one will find an enormous number of variants. The image contents are basically identical, as almost all show a set of circumaural/over-ear or supra-aural/on-ear headphones with headband, with renderings just varying in details. This image content seems to be a visual stereotype for both referents. Some designers added additional elements to indicate sound or the source of it. This possibly could improve comprehensibility, but depending on the context, in which these pictograms are used, this enhancement might be redundant, and even could reduce readability in small size applications as on floorplans, for example.

It should be noted that several images for another referent, the mandatory safety sign Ear Protection Required/Wear Ear Muffs, have an identical image content, and correct compehension of all three messages basically will be dependent on the context in which the pictograms are presented.

In our research we did not discover test data on comprehension of a single pictogram used to indicate Headphones or Audio Guide, but we expect satisfactory comprehensibility for several renderings available.

Recommendations

Due to the fact that data from research is insufficient, we recommend testing using the Comprehensibility Estimation procedure for eliminating poor variants and identifying the best of the set available, followed by a Comprehension Test. These studies should deliver useful data for recommending the best pictogram. Detailed information about the most frequent responses given in each of the response categories of the Comprehension Test should be provided to correctly judge comprehensibility and improve designs. Some kind of context information should be provided to ensure sufficient validity of the data collected.

Tests of pictograms of referent Headphones

No data from research or tests is available in our database.