Squash

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Racquetball, Racket Ball

Category

Sports, Ball Sports, Sporting Activities, Activities, Recreation, Tourism

Message / Function

For notice in general and to indicate the location of facilities for playing squash

	Source	Description
1)	ÖNORM A 3011	Back view of human figure with racket and ball, perspective view of two walls of squash court
2)	ON Testdesign	View of human figure with racket and ball, vertical line indicating wall
3)	ON Testdesign	View of human figure with racket and ball, perspective view of squash court
	Erco	View of human figure with racket and ball, rectangle indicating wall
4)	Eybl	View of two human figures, each with racket, plus ball
6)	Bräuer	Front view of human figure with racket and ball
	Wien BfS	Human figure with racket and ball
	BTA 1989	Human figure with racket
5)	SSRS	Squash racket plus ball, with triangle above
	Dutchicon	Racket plus ball

Discussion

The number of pictograms to indicate the location of facilities for playing squash we found in our database is quite limited. It seems no clear visual stereotype exists for the referent Squash.

Of the few pictogram variants we have in our collection, most were examined on basis of tests:

The numbers next to the pictograms shown in the table above represent the rank order according to the merged results of Appropriateness Ranking Tests conducted in Austria (Brugger, 1985) and Sweden (Gärling, 1985). The pictogram marked with 6) was judged as rather inappropriate as it could be confused with Tennis easily. The same can be said about the variant labeled BTA 1989, and also the racket plus ball by Dutchicon could be tennis equipment just as well.

The suitability of symbol No 103 from ÖNORM A 3011, originally a trial-design by Karl Scheiber, was indicated by the extremely positive results it reached in the ranking tests mentioned above. It is the only variant which effectively shows one main aspect of Squash: the presence of walls used for playing the game. The table below illustrates how the varying degree of familiarity of Squash among the respondents determined the rate of correct comprehension (Brugger, 1987):

Australia	95 %
United Kingdom	90 %
Austria	70 %
Japan	32 %
Hungary	9 %

The symbol conveys its message extremely well.

Recommendations

Squash

Based on the test results known we recommend the use of pictogram No 103 of the Austrian standard ÖNORM A 3011, part 5 to signify Squash.

Tests of pictograms of referent Squash

Brugger, Ch. (1984): Reihungstest 1984. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute, Vienna, 1984-10-05.

Brugger, Ch. (1987): Evaluation of Public Information Symbols, ISO 1986 Test Series: Comprehension/Recognition Test. Vienna: ISO / TC 145 / SC 1.

Gärling, T. (1985): ISO Appropriateness Ranking Test 1985 - Redovisning av genomförande. Report to the Swedish Standards Institute dated 1985-07-24.