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  • "Universal" symbols

    From Don Y@21:1/5 to All on Mon Mar 3 16:19:32 2025
    I detest the things. OTOH, I am now faced with using them.
    So, I am trying to minimize the number of different symbols
    as a courtesy to my users.

    [Note that these have to be understandable regardless of
    sensory modality]

    I've opted to use (excuse the ASCII art):

    ] generic input
    [ -> generic output
    (+) power entry, positive polarity
    (-) power entry, negative polarity

    Note that I have deliberately avoided the convention used
    on barrel connectors:

    + ---( O--- -
    - ---( O--- +

    because it is impossible for SIGHTED people to read (when reduced
    to whatever size the packaging requires -- leaving room for all
    the other crap that folks want to adorn their products with
    (e.g., legalese). Imagine trying to make a version that
    someone with no/limited sight could discern!

    I figure a + or - in a circle is more than adequate AND can
    be reproduced at a larger scale than all of that other cruft.

    I've used other symbols in a conventional manner (e.g., ^ for "this
    end up").

    But, other (ISO/OSHA) symbols seem to stump the folks on whom I've
    auditioned them. E.g., "hot", "high? voltage" (I was surprised at
    that!), "danger" (also somewhat surprising), etc. Any guidance on
    how to more reliably convey this sort of information without
    requiring the user to "discover" the indicated problem "the hard way"?

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  • From Don Y@21:1/5 to Liz Tuddenham on Tue Mar 4 01:59:23 2025
    On 3/4/2025 1:27 AM, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
    Don Y <[email protected]d> wrote:

    [...]
    I've used other symbols in a conventional manner (e.g., ^ for "this
    end up").

    Just a small point: The legend "This Side Up" is pointless on the top
    side but "Other Side Up" on the bottom side is far more useful.

    Text is eschewed because it is monolingual AND hard to read
    without eyesight.

    A symbol can be seen or felt to identify it's general characteristics.

    (Imagine "feeling" the traditional barrel connector polarity identifiers;
    how large would they have to be for you to be able to discern their
    intent? Now, imagine having neuropathy diminish the sensitivity in
    your fingertips...)

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  • From Liz Tuddenham@21:1/5 to Don Y on Tue Mar 4 08:27:27 2025
    Don Y <[email protected]d> wrote:

    [...]
    I've used other symbols in a conventional manner (e.g., ^ for "this
    end up").

    Just a small point: The legend "This Side Up" is pointless on the top
    side but "Other Side Up" on the bottom side is far more useful.

    --
    ~ Liz Tuddenham ~
    (Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)
    www.poppyrecords.co.uk

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