Ballooning

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Balloon, Hot Air Balloon

Category

Activities, Leisure Activities, Recreation, Tourism

Message / Function

For notice in general and to signify the activity of ballooning

	Source	Description
	SADC	Perspective view of three decorated balloons
	Meiertoberens	Side view of hot air balloon, two clowds in front, all in outline
	rahmat	Side view of hot air balloon, two clowds in front, all in outline
	CNIS	Side view of decorated hot air balloon
	Bolivia	Side view of hot air balloon
	Peru MST	Side view of hot air balloon
	EJP	Side view of decorated hot air balloon
	Dutchicon	Side view of decorated balloon
	BS 8501:2002	Side view of hot air balloon
	Erco	Side view of bottom part of a balloon with basket showing details
	Aicher OAP	Side view of bottom part of a balloon with basket showing details

Discussion

Most images available show a side view of a balloon with basket. Variations are primarily based on the amount of details shown, and a few designers added clouds to improve differentiation from related content like Paragliding. But also pictograms showing several ballons as the variant from South Africa (labeled SADC) or the focus on the bottom part of a balloon with basket are solutions intended to ensure comprehensibility.

In our research we discovered that there is only very limited test data available:

When Fiori (2008) examined a map symbol similar to the pictogram from Otl Aicher labled Aicher OAP in the table above, 81.0 % answered correctly (50.2 % Ballooning, 30.8 % Balloon) and 8.9 % of the participants did not respond. 10.1 % of the responses were classified as wrong, including answers like Parachute Jumping, probably due to the small scale display used in the test. Results indicate that this variant is understood nicely.

Regarding these issues we assume variants like the Chinese pictogram labeled CNIS to be even better comprehensable, as no similarities with images for Paragliding and Parachute Jumping exist and confusions with these referents are not to be expected even in small scale reproduction.

Recommendations

Ballooning

Based on test results available we recommend the use of a pictogram similar to the variant from the Chinese standard GB/T 10001 (CNIS) as we expect comprehensibility of this pictogram to fulfill ISO requirements.

We further suggest to conduct a Comprehension Test comparing this concept with other variants to clarify this subject and support or correct this recommendation. Detailed information about the most frequent responses given in each of the response categories should be provided to correctly judge comprehensibility and improve designs, if necessary.

Tests of pictograms of referent Ballooning

Fiori, S. R. (2008): Mapas para o turismo e a interatividade - proposta teórica e prática. Tese de Doutorado - Depto. de Geografia, FFLCH-USP.