Chapter 19: Intelligent auditory alarms

by Anne Guillaume

Description

How to make an intelligent alarm? The concept of intelligence is in the overall approach of an alarm system as part of an integrated workstation and taking into account the sound environment. The sound design is of course an important step to allow immediate identification of the hazard through a mental representation of the sound, quick learning, easy discrimination and memorization.

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Download the chapter: TheSonificationHandbook-chapter19 (PDF, 1M)

Media Examples

Example S19.1: capnometry
The following 6 examples of alarms were recorded in an operating room. The acoustical properties of these alarms do not allow a differentiation of the level of urgency among them although the real level of urgency is very different.  This alarm is linked with a sensor sensible to CO2.


media file S19.1
download: SHB-S19.1 (mp3, 497k)
source: recorded by Claude Blancard for Anne Guillaume

Example S19.2: defect O2 supply
See S19.1 for reference.  This alarm is linked with a sensor sensible to O2.


media file S19.2
download: SHB-S19.2 (mp3, 236k)
source: recorded by Claude Blancard for Anne Guillaume

Example S19.3: disconnection pulse probe
See S19.1 for reference. This alarm is triggered when the pulse probe is disconnected.


media file S19.3
download: SHB-S19.3 (mp3, 352k)
source: recorded by Claude Blancard for Anne Guillaume

Example S19.4: perfusionend
See S19.1 for reference. This alarm is triggered when the perfusion has ended.


media file S19.4
download: SHB-S19.4 (mp3, 262k)
source: recorded by Claude Blancard for Anne Guillaume

Example S19.5: pulse
See S19.1 for reference. This alarm is synchronous to the beat arterial pulse.


media file S19.5
download: SHB-S19.5 (mp3, 328k)
source: recorded by Claude Blancard for Anne Guillaume

Example S19.6: waking up alarm
See S19.1 for reference. This alarm triggered when the patient is waking up.


media file S19.6
download: SHB-S19.6 (mp3, 466k)
source: recorded by Claude Blancard for Anne Guillaume

Example S19.7: ASY1
The following 4 examples of alarms were designed according to Edworthy’s principles. The perceived level of urgency is increasing from number 9 to number 1. This effect is obtained by modulating the different acoustical properties of the sounds: rate, pitch, regularity of harmonics. ASY1 is an alarm with a high level of urgency.


media file S19.7
download: SHB-S19.7 (mp3, 69k)
source: created by Anne Guillaume

Example S19.8: ASY5
See S19.7. for reference. ASY5 is and alarm with a medium level of urgency.


media file S19.8
download: SHB-S19.8 (mp3, 77k)
source: created by Anne Guillaume

Example S19.9: ASY7
See S19.7. for reference. ASY7 is an alarm with a medium level of urgency.


media file S19.9
download: SHB-S19.9 (mp3, 71k)
source: created by Anne Guillaume

Example S19.10: ASY9
See S19.7. for reference. ASY9 is an alarm with a low level of urgency.


media file S19.10
download: SHB-S19.10 (mp3, 76k)
source: created by Anne Guillaume