station sound signs

Otoha, have you ever noticed the "ping-pong" sound or bird chirping near the ticket gates or stairs at the train station?

Yeah. I don't really understand what it's for, but I know there's a "ping-pong" sound.

That sound is an audible signal used by visually impaired people to help them find the ticket gates and stairs.

sign?

Ah. Besides directly conveying meaning with words like sound, if we know that "this sound represents this meaning," we can use that sound to convey meaning, right? The ping-pong at the station is a sign that says, "This is the ticket gate." The sound of a bird is a sign that says, "This is the platform stairs."

Oh, I see. What other kinds of sound signals are there? Is the chime that sounds right before a train departs one of them?

That's right. It's not a sound indicating a location, but rather a sound that signals the timing, so it's a signal sound even for sighted people. It's sometimes called a "boarding encouragement sound," but I think the intention is basically that boarding should be completed before the chime finishes ringing.

But often there are people who rush to board the train, and after the chime finishes ringing, the conductor makes an announcement saying, "We are closing the doors. Please refrain from rushing to board."

That's right. Conversely, railway companies are considering whether the chime might be encouraging people to rush onto the train, and they seem to be experimenting with various conditions, such as shortening the time or eliminating the chime. It seems they haven't reached a conclusion yet, but the psychology of people who are motivated by sound is complex, and there's probably no single definitive solution.

Wow, that's interesting. At train stations, they don't just have announcement sounds, but also recorded sounds that are played on repeat, right?

There are also sounds indicating the men's and women's restrooms on escalators going up and down, and in train stations.

This directly indicates a location, so it's a sound intended for visually impaired people.

That's right. As Oto said, this playback sound is played continuously at some stations. I think that at some stations, the escalator announcements overlap with those for multiple platforms, making them difficult to hear.

Also, the sound is long and sometimes it's hard to understand what's being said.

The materials used in the interior of train stations and buildings often have long reverberations, partly because some areas are semi-outdoors, making it difficult to use sound-absorbing materials. While many modern public spaces have well-designed acoustics, older buildings may not have given that much consideration.

Besides, there weren't any "sound signals" back then, right?

That's right. As "sound signs" have become more widespread, various issues have also come to light. There are people who perceive "sound signs" as noise and find them very bothersome. Actually, I'm rather bothered by them myself. I think there could be improvements both architecturally and in how "sound signs" are provided.

I don't really mind it. There are local chimes used by railway companies and stations, and some of my railway-fan friends even collect the sounds.

I see. In the end, whether or not these kinds of sounds are perceived as noise depends not on their volume, but on personal preference. In Japan, loudspeakers are somewhat more prevalent than in Europe and the US, and some researchers are questioning this when considering the urban soundscape. However, the need to balance noise with safety and convenience is the same as with the proximity warning sounds for hybrid and electric vehicles that we discussed earlier.

Sound issues always require balancing them with other requirements.

That's right. Sound is something that's very close to us, and we often take it for granted or don't even notice it, but it plays various roles in our lives. We need to think about sound design in conjunction with the spaces where sound is provided, so that as many people as possible don't perceive it as noise, and so that convenience and safety are ensured.