4 ms·

The same are used in Ireland. Does anyone know why they choose to use these, as opposed to the same as the UK? http://todayilearned.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/20

The same are used in Ireland. Does anyone know why they choose to use these, as opposed to the same as the UK? http://todayilearned.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/crossing-push-button.jpg http://todayilearned.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/crossi... These not only give feedback when the button is pressed, but also have a tactile spinner on the bottom for blind people (most, but not all, pedestrian crossings in the UK beep when you can cross however).

vacri 10y ago
There's tactile feedback for the blind on these buttons. I'm not sure I'd class the button you linked as particularly good - most people know what to look for with traffic crossing buttons, and duplicating the lesson on every (quite small) button seems a bit pointless... and useless if you don't read English (eg tourists etc). It's overall too complex for a simple function. Using a white light for 'WAIT' is also a wasted opportunity (should be a regular 'warning' colour instead). I don't really use either mechanism, but I would guess that the ticker in the linked article (the metal bit in the middle of the arrow gives a strong click) would be preferable to touching something underneath a city-dwelling box, where muck, gunk, and whatever accumulates. That's an edge-case complaint, though. Another thing to consider with these kinds of things is reliability, maintenance, and cost. May not interest the UX people, but will definitely interest the local councils...
- stuaxo 10y ago
  The newer ones look like this - the indicator with the red or green man is usually positioned so that you will be looking at oncoming traffic - https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fi.telegraph.co.uk%2Fmultimedia%2Farchive%2F02209%2Fcrossing_2209318b.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuknews%2Froad-and-rail-transport%2F9241663%2FNew-inquiry-into-Puffin-pedestrian-crossings-amid-safety-fears.html&docid=J31kEmkjr52E0M&tbnid=9kbk4fPZsTpRRM%3A&w=620&h=387&client=ubuntu&bih=659&biw=1376&ved=0ahUKEwifkdm79YTPAhUIL8AKHU4YB_4QMwgfKAEwAQ&iact=mrc&uact=8 https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fi.telegr...
nicky0 10y ago
I love the Irish crossings. I'm from the UK and whilst I like our iconic Pelican crossings, the beep-beep-beep is pretty boring. I love the "KAPOWWW!!-tic-tic-tic" you get in Ireland.
bmsleight_ 10y ago
> The same are used in Ireland. Does anyone know why they choose to use these, as opposed to the same as the UK? Different legislation. Most of UK: tsrgd 2016 legislation, including the North of Ireland. Most UK one with have the tactile on the bottom, especially on the right hand side, as the visually impaired person normally has guide dog on left.
Macha 10y ago
Waterford at least had those in the 90s and replaced them with the current Australian style ones.

vacri 10y ago

There's tactile feedback for the blind on these buttons. I'm not sure I'd class the button you linked as particularly good - most people know what to look for with traffic crossing buttons, and duplicating the lesson on every (quite small) button seems a bit pointless... and useless if you don't read English (eg tourists etc). It's overall too complex for a simple function. Using a white light for 'WAIT' is also a wasted opportunity (should be a regular 'warning' colour instead). I don't really use either mechanism, but I would guess that the ticker in the linked article (the metal bit in the middle of the arrow gives a strong click) would be preferable to touching something underneath a city-dwelling box, where muck, gunk, and whatever accumulates. That's an edge-case complaint, though. Another thing to consider with these kinds of things is reliability, maintenance, and cost. May not interest the UX people, but will definitely interest the local councils...

stuaxo 10y ago
The newer ones look like this - the indicator with the red or green man is usually positioned so that you will be looking at oncoming traffic - https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fi.telegraph.co.uk%2Fmultimedia%2Farchive%2F02209%2Fcrossing_2209318b.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuknews%2Froad-and-rail-transport%2F9241663%2FNew-inquiry-into-Puffin-pedestrian-crossings-amid-safety-fears.html&docid=J31kEmkjr52E0M&tbnid=9kbk4fPZsTpRRM%3A&w=620&h=387&client=ubuntu&bih=659&biw=1376&ved=0ahUKEwifkdm79YTPAhUIL8AKHU4YB_4QMwgfKAEwAQ&iact=mrc&uact=8 https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fi.telegr...

nicky0 10y ago

I love the Irish crossings. I'm from the UK and whilst I like our iconic Pelican crossings, the beep-beep-beep is pretty boring. I love the "KAPOWWW!!-tic-tic-tic" you get in Ireland.

bmsleight_ 10y ago

> The same are used in Ireland. Does anyone know why they choose to use these, as opposed to the same as the UK? Different legislation. Most of UK: tsrgd 2016 legislation, including the North of Ireland. Most UK one with have the tactile on the bottom, especially on the right hand side, as the visually impaired person normally has guide dog on left.

Macha 10y ago

Waterford at least had those in the 90s and replaced them with the current Australian style ones.