Synonyms / Other Terms Used
Bathing
Category
Sports, Water Sports, Sporting Activities, Activities, Recreation, Tourism
Message / Function
For notice in general and to indicate the location for public swimming or bathing
Source | Description | |
---|---|---|
O'96 | Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as two waves | |
O'12 | Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as jagged line | |
Erco | Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as five wavy lines | |
ÖNORM A 3011 | Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as three wavy lines | |
CNIS | Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as two wavy lines | |
SADC | Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as wavy line | |
Dutchicon | Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as wavy line | |
O'80 | Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as two waves | |
UKFC | Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as wavy line | |
NARSSM | Swimmer using front crawl technique, water indicated as a wavy contour and line | |
NPS | Swimmer using front crawl technique, water indicated as a wavy contour and line | |
Tern | Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as two wavy lines | |
BS 8501:2002 | Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as two wavy lines | |
NPS (Hora) | Human figure swimming, water shown as a wavy contour | |
PC | Human figure swimming, water shown as a wavy line | |
U.S. National Park Service |
Human figure swimming, water shown as a wavy line | |
Aicher & Krampen |
Swimmer using front crawl technique, water shown as two wavy lines | |
Eco-Mo Foundation |
Human figure swimming, water shown as a wavy contour | |
NZS 8603 | Human figure swimming, water shown as two wavy lines | |
Ota | Human figure swimming, water shown as a wavy line | |
O'68 | Water shown as a wavy lines, arm with hand above | |
* | SSRS | Head and shoulders of human figure above water shown as two wavy lines |
GSR Portugal | Human figur starting diving into water shown as three wavy lines | |
France IISR | Human figur starting diving into water shown as two wavy lines | |
Aragón | Human figur diving into water shown as two wavy lines | |
* | Unknown | Human figur diving into water shown as a wavy line |
* | Unknown | Water shown as four wavy lines |
Aicher & Krampen |
Curved element similar to a tilde in outline |
Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.
Discussion
As the collection above illustrates, the dominating variants for indicating a location for public swimming or bathing are made up of a human figure swimming (front crawl technique) and water shown as a wavy lines. The position of the arm as shown in the U.S. National Park Service variant and the symbol labeled as NPS Mapping (Hora page 85) seems problematic, as it could be confused with a drowning person as depicted in the OCHA Humanitarian Icons set. For Swimming Pool several organizations use the image of a human figur diving into water.
Test results found in our database cover several image contents in use:
When Gehringer (1976) examined six variants for Swimming Pool and Bathing in an Appropriateness Ranking Test, the pictogram from Erco shown in the table above was ranked best, followed by the old NPS symbol. The variants at the bottom of this table marked with a *, showing a human figur diving into water or even just water shown as several wavy lines, were judged as inappropriate.
Renderings of a human figure swimming with water shown as one or more wavy lines were understood well in all studies available providing Comprehension Test data, with comprehension scores in a range from 84 to 96 (Brugger, 1978, Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001, Fiori, 2008).
Recommendations
Based on data available and regarding design aspects, we recommend the use of a pictogram similar to Public Information Symbol No 38 of ÖNORM A 3011 part 2 displayed above, but proportions of the arm recovering above the water should be corrected.
Tests of pictograms of referent Swimming, Swimming Pool
Brugger, Ch. (1978): Bericht über die Auswertung des Erkennungstests vom November/Dezember 1977. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute, Vienna, 1978-03-06.
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.
Fiori, S. R. (2008): Mapas para o turismo e a interatividade - proposta teórica e prática. Tese de Doutorado - Depto. de Geografia, FFLCH-USP.
Gehringer, J. (1976): Reihungstest über 18 Begriffe aus dem Sportwesen - Priorität I. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute (ON) dated January 1976, Vienna.
See also
Diving, Scuba Diving
Bath, Shower, Whirlpool, Jacuzzi
Beach, Lawn, Sunbathing Area
Jet Skiing, Sailing, Surfing, Windsurfing
Updated 2024-11-15 by Ch.Brugger