Queue

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Queuing, Line Up, Line Up Here, Line Up Two By Two, Line up in threes, ...

Category

Behaviour of the Public, Regulations

Message / Function

To indicate the necessity to queue (in single file, in lines of two, ...) for access to facility

	Source	Description
	Gan Khoon Lay	Perspective view of line of eight human figures
	Transport for London	Line of six human figures
	BS 8501:2002	Line of six human figures
	Eco-Mo Foundation	Line of five human figures, every other figure with inverted colors
	CNIS	Front view of line of figures, first one solid, other three in outline
	ISO 7001	Front view of line of figures, first one solid, other two in outline
	D'source	Detail view of line of four human figures, first one solid, some parts in outline
	D'source	Detail view of line of four female figures, first one solid, some parts in outline
	D'source	Detail view of line of four female figures, first one solid, some parts in outline
	Teuku Syahrizal	Line of three human figures, arrow parallel to queue
	Eco-Mo Foundation	Line of ten human figures, two by two, every other row with inverted colors
	CNIS	Front view of two lines of figures, front ones solid, remainder in outline
	ISO 7001	Front view of two lines of figures, front ones solid, remainder in outline
	CNIS	Front view of three lines of figures, front ones solid, remainder in outline
	ISO 7001	Front view of three lines of figures, front ones solid, remainder in outline
	EMF Pred	Line of nine human figures, three by three, second row with inverted colors

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

Discussion

The number of designs available is rather limited. Different points of view result in varying angles at which the queues are displayed, and the number of persons behind each other range from three to eight. Using perspective view as in the variant from Gan Khoon Lay might lead to less clear results when displaying lines of two or more. In our research we found even lines of six and eight, being used at the boarding area of chair lifts. In such environments queueing in correct groups is important to utilize maximum transportation capacity available.

Test data is sparse:

In a Japanese study to propose domestically unified graphical symbols based on scientific methods, the pictogram variant labeled as Eco-Mo Foundation in the table above reached a comprehension score of 79.7 on basis of a multiple choice test with just three distractors (Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001), so depending on the distractors used data might overestimate real world comprehensibility. This variant was tested as mandatory sign in white on blue.

Recommendations

We suggest to compare the concepts available to identify the best image content. The study design should also include a Comprehension Test to identify possible misinterpretations and to improve designs. Only on such a basis a clear decision concerning a specific recommendation can be reached.

Hora page 157: CNIS Pictogram Line Up Here

Until then nothing is to be said against using variants similar to the variants from the Chinese standard GB/T 10001 as we expect comprehensibility of these pictograms to fulfill ISO requirements. These pictograms also are identical with the images presented with the corresponding referents in the Austrian standard S 4610.

Tests of pictograms of referent Queue

Eco-Mo Foundation (2001): Test data of public information symbols in Japan - Procedure for the testing of public information symbols by the Study Committee. ISO: ISO/TC 145/SC 1 N 329.