Guidelines for the syntactic design of audio cues in computer interfaces. Revision 1
D A Sumikawa, Meera M. Blattner, Kenneth I. Joy, R.M. Greenberg · OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) · 1986
Earcons are audio cues used in the computer/user interface to provide information and feedback to the user about computer entities. (Earcons include messages and functions, as well as states and labels.) Design guidelines are presented for the syntax of earcons. Earcons are constructed from pitches, rhythms, and motives, short sequences of notes with a specific rhythm and pitch, embellished by timbre, dynamics, and register. Compound earcons and family earcons are introduced. These are related motives that serve to identify a family of related cues. Examples of earcons are given. 18 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.