PB/5 pedestrian crossing button
The PB/5 pedestrian crossing button or audio tactile pedestrian button is a pedestrian crossing system that assists hearing and vision impaired users.
It was designed in Australia in 1984 and features at cross walk locations in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and the United States.[1] The design team was led by industrial designer David Wood, acoustical engineer Louis Challis, and roads and traffic authority (RTA) engineer Frank Hulscher.[1]
Due to its loud beeping, and audio tactile interface, it is an example of the curb cut effect: a disability design which also benefits other users. In this case, the beeping keeps people alert and aware around road safety.[citation needed] The PB/5 has been featured in Australian design museums[2] and academic journals.[3]
Features
[edit]The PB/5 was designed to assist both the vision and hearing impaired. It emits loud and rhythmic beeping that changes in tone and pace indicating the state of the crossing signals: slow chirp sounds for "don't walk" (described in the patent as a "locator sound") and an urgent "tick-tock-tick-tock" to signal the time for crossing. A single "kapow!" notifies the listener of a change in state.[4] The volume is adjusted via a microphone which periodically monitors for traffic noise, as to remain audible above it.[4]
It also has a large embossed arrow on the front panel indicating the direction of the crossing.[3] The tactile nature of the embossing is intended to function in conjunction with tactile paving to avoid any confusion.[5][clarification needed] It is also designed to aid the hearing impaired as the embossed arrow on the front panel vibrates in-sync with the rhythmic beeps, giving hearing impaired people an immediate and tactile signal of when to cross.[4]
In popular culture
[edit]The beeping signals from the PB/5 have been sampled in multiple songs, including Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy'[6] and Giuseppe Ottaviani's "Crossing Lights".[7][8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Park, Miles (29 June 2014). "Sublime design: the PB/5 pedestrian button". The Conversation. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ Curtis, Jane; Jacobs, John. "Oscillations: Push to Walk". powerhouse.com.au. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ a b Park, Miles. "Sublime design: the PB/5 pedestrian button". UNSW Sites. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ a b c Kruszelnicki, Karl S. (9 February 2016). "Traffic button pushes beautiful design". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
- ^ O'Shea, Julian. "Why Australia's Crosswalk Buttons are the Best - PB/5 (ft. Billie Eilish)". Why Australia’s Crosswalk Buttons are the Best - PB/5 (ft. Billie Eilish). Retrieved 26 March 2025.
- ^ Carmody, Karl Quinn, Broede (28 January 2020). "Billie Eilish's Grammy hit features a surprising Australian sound". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Ottaviani, Giuseppe (12 October 2015). "Crossing Lights". Youtube. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ Bruce-Smith, Alex (5 October 2015). "LISTEN: Trance Track Samples Aussie Pedestrian Crossing Sounds". PEDESTRIAN.TV. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
External links
[edit]- Traffic button pushes beautiful design (2016) – Article and audio documentary by Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki