Abstract
The current research classified 82 vehicle icons into seven categories (image-related, concept-related, semi-abstract, arbitrary, abbreviation, word, and combined) for their matching accuracy, matching sequence, and matching time. These data can be compared and used as a framework for future icon development. Forty participants, all with a university degree, took part in this experiment. Half of the participants had intensive driving experience, while the other half never driven a car. The results indicated that on average, word icons had a significantly greater matching accuracy than the other icon formats; ranging from 4.7 to 20.8% difference. Regarding the matching sequence, participants matched image-related icons before other icon formats. Arbitrary and combined icons took significantly longer to match than other icon formats by 1.4-6.2s. Based on the high matching accuracy (86.3%) and high ratings on subjective design features, word format can be used for functions describable using simple English for users with English reading ability. Confusion matrices showed that 63.2% of the misunderstandings were caused by similarity in format or function.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 904-916 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Applied Ergonomics |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2014 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Confusion matrix
- Icon taxonomy
- Image-related