Station Sound Sign
father
Have you ever noticed sounds like 'ping pong' or birds chirping near the ticket gate or stairs at the station?
Oto-kun
Yeah. I don't really understand the meaning of what it's for, but I know that there is a sound like 'ping pong'.
father
That sound is a signal that visually impaired people use to know the locations of ticket gates and stairs.
Oto-kun
Sign?
father
Ah. Besides conveying meaning directly through words like in speech, if you understand that "this sound represents this meaning," you can use that sound to communicate meaning, right? The station bell signifies, "This is the ticket gate." The bird sound is a sign that says, "This is the stairs to the platform."
Oto-kun
I see. What other sound signals are there? Is the chime that rings just before a train departs one of them?
father
That's right. It's not indicating a location, but rather a sound that informs about the timing, so it serves as a signal for both sighted and visually impaired people. It's said to be a 'boarding promotion sound,' but fundamentally, I think the intention is for boarding to be completed by the time the chime finishes.
Oto-kun
However, there are often people rushing to board, and after the chime has finished ringing, the conductor announces, "The doors are closing. Please refrain from rushing to board."
father
That's right. Conversely, considering that the chime may be encouraging people to rush onto the train, it seems that railway companies are experimenting with various conditions, such as shortening the time or eliminating the chime altogether. It appears that no conclusion has been reached yet, but the psychology of people acting in response to sound is quite deep, and there may not be a definitive method for this.
Oto-kun
Wow, that's interesting. At the station, there are not only sign sounds but also recorded sounds that are played repeatedly.
father
There are also sounds indicating the direction of the escalators (up and down) and the distinction between male and female restrooms at the station.
Oto-kun
This sound directly indicates a place, so it is meant for visually impaired people.
father
That's right. As you mentioned, this playback sound is continuously played at some stations. I think that at some stations, the escalator announcements overlap with multiple platform announcements, making them hard to hear.
Oto-kun
Moreover, the reverberation is long, and there are times when the words cannot be heard clearly.
father
The materials used in the interior design of train stations and buildings can sometimes be in semi-outdoor areas, which makes it difficult to use sound-absorbing materials. Generally, many places have long reverberation times. While many recent public spaces have well-thought-out acoustic design, I think older buildings did not take this into consideration as much.
Oto-kun
Besides, there weren't any 'sound signs' back in the day, right?
father
That's right. With the spread of 'sound signs', various challenges have emerged. There are people who perceive 'sound signs' as noise and are very concerned about them. In fact, my father is quite bothered by it. This includes the idea that both the architectural aspects and the way 'sound signs' are provided could be improved.
Oto-kun
I'm not too concerned about it. There are local chimes at train companies and stations, and I have friends who are train fans that collect the sounds.
father
I see. In the end, the perception of this type of sound is determined not by its volume but by personal likes and dislikes. In Japan, the sounds from loudspeakers are somewhat more prevalent compared to Western countries, and some researchers question this in the context of urban soundscapes. However, just like with the proximity alert sounds of hybrid and electric vehicles, we must balance noise with safety and convenience.
Oto-kun
The issue of sound is something that must be balanced with other demands.
father
That's right. Sound is very close to us, and we often take it for granted or fail to notice it, but it has various roles in our lives. We need to think about sound design together with the places where sound is produced, so that as many people as possible do not perceive it as noise, while ensuring convenience and safety.