PB/5 pedestrian crossing button
Disability-friendly pedestrian crossing system From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The PB/5 pedestrian crossing button or audio tactile pedestrian button is a pedestrian crossing system that assists hearing and vision impaired users.
It was designed in Australia in 1984 and features at cross walk locations in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and the United States.[1] The design team was led by industrial designer David Wood, acoustical engineer Louis Challis, and roads and traffic authority (RTA) engineer Frank Hulscher.[1]
Due to its loud beeping, and audio tactile interface, it is an example of the curb cut effect: a disability design which also benefits other users. In this case, the beeping keeps people alert and aware around road safety.[citation needed] The PB/5 has been featured in Australian design museums[2] and academic journals.[3]
Features
The PB/5 was designed to assist both the vision and hearing impaired. It emits loud and rhythmic beeping that changes in tone and pace indicating the state of the crossing signals: slow chirp sounds for "don't walk" (described in the patent as a "locator sound") and an urgent "tick-tock-tick-tock" to signal the time for crossing. A single "kapow!" notifies the listener of a change in state.[4] The volume is adjusted via a microphone which periodically monitors for traffic noise, as to remain audible above it.[4]
It also has a large embossed arrow on the front panel indicating the direction of the crossing.[3] The tactile nature of the embossing is intended to function in conjunction with tactile paving to avoid any confusion.[5][clarification needed] It is also designed to aid the hearing impaired as the embossed arrow on the front panel vibrates in-sync with the rhythmic beeps, giving hearing impaired people an immediate and tactile signal of when to cross.[4]
In popular culture
The beeping signals from the PB/5 have been sampled in multiple songs, including Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy'[6] and Giuseppe Ottaviani's "Crossing Lights".[7][8]
See also
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.