INTRODUCTIONWe are all physically disabled (1) at some time in our lives. A child, a person with a broken leg, a parent with a pram, an elderly person, etc. are all disabled in one way or another. Those who remain healthy and able-bodied all their lives are few. As far as the built-up environment is concerned, it is important that it should be barrier-free and adapted to fulfill the needs of all people equally. As a matter of fact, the needs of the disabled coincide with the needs of the majority, and all people are at ease with them. As such, planning for the majority implies planning for people with varying abilities and disabilities.

Signs Signs are used to convey information in pictorial form. This has many advantages over written instructions. People who talk different languages can understand the same common signs. Instructions for some tasks can be clearer when given as drawings.Signs & Symbols Signs & symbols are commonly used in everyday situations. Roadsigns, information, engineering symbols, flow charts and circuit diagrams are types of drawings that you will need to know about for your exams.Signs There are different families of signs. These are: mandatory signs prohibition signs warning signs safety signs danger signsSigns - Mandatory signs These signs are blue in colour. They give a positive instruction. In other words they tell you what to do rather than what not to do.

Signs - Prohibition signs

These signs are circular with a line across the circle. They are red in colour.

Signs - Warning signs These signs are yellow. They are normally triangular but can be other shapes. Signs - Safety Signs These signs tell people of safe places to go or safe conditions. Signs - Danger signs These signs warn people of dangerous situations. Commonly found on roadsigns and the back of long vehicles.

Signs There are also general information signs used for a number of different purposes. Some common signs are shown over the next few slides.Signs Kitemark The Kitemark is used to tell consumers that the products they buy are safety tested to BSI standards. All products sold must carry this Kitemark to be legally sold.

Signs Disabled This is used to show disabled access.

Signs - male & female These signs are used commonly to distinguish the male and female toilets. I. URBAN DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS2. SIGNAGE

1. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATIONOrientation difficulties resulting from illegible directional signs, street names and numbering and/or the lack of them.Pedestrian accidents due to badly positioned signs.Hazards due to lack of warning and traffic signals.Non-identification of access routes and accessible facilities.2. PLANNING PRINCIPLETo facilitate orientation mainly for the disabled.3. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS3.1 GeneralSignage include direction signs, signs of locality, street names and numbering, information signs, etc.All types of signs should be visible, clear, simple, easy to read and understand, and properly lit at night.In general, signs should not be placed behind glass because of possible reflection.Signage placed on the pedestrian path of travel are considered obstructions; thus, they should be detectable (seeObstructions).3.2 International symbol of accessibilityAccessible spaces and facilities should be identified by the international symbol of accessiblity (fig. 1).The symbol is composed of a wheelchair figure with either a square background or a square border (fig. 2).Contrasting colours should be used to differentiate the figure from the background. The commonly employed colours are white for the figure and blue for the background.The wheelchair figure should always be seen from drawn facing right.For completely accessible buildings, it is enough to have one explanatory sign at the entrance.3.3 Direction signsGraphic or written directions should be used to indicate clearly the type and location of the available facility (fig. 3).Directional signs need not be excessive in number, but they should be placed at main entrances and doors and in places where changes in direction or level occur.3.4 Street namesFixed signs indicating street names should be placed at a maximum height of 2.50 m (fig. 4).3.5 House numbersFixed signs indicating house numbers should be placed at a maximum height of 2.00 m (fig. 4).3.6 Maps and information panelsMaps and information panels at building entrances, along roads, and on public buildings should be placed at a height between 0.90 m and 1.80 m (fig. 5).3.7 InstallationSigns can be wall-mounted, suspended or pole-mounted.(a) Wall-Mounted signs:Wall-mounted signs, such as those indicating room numbers, should be placed with the centre line at a height between 1.40 m and 1.60m from the finished floor level.(b) Overhanging signs:Overhanging signs should allow a minimum clearance of 2.00 m (seeObstructions).(c)Pole-Mounted signs:(seeObstructions)3.8 Shape of signboardsInformation signboards should be rectangular.Warning signboards should be triangular.Interdictory signboards should be circular.3.9 ColourThe colour of signs should contrast with the surrounding surface so as to be clearly distinguishable.The commonly used colours are: white, black, yellow, red, blue and green.The colour combinations red/green and yellow/blue should not be used in order to avoid confusing colour- blind persons.3.10 SurfaceThe sign surface should be processed to prevent glare.Engraved texts should be avoided unless they are coloured. Relief prints are advisable.Key plans, orientation signs and push buttons in lifts must have a text in Braille or in relief. (1)3.11 LetteringThe size of letters should be in proportion to the reading distance (fig. 6).Character width-to-height ratio should be between 3:5 and 1:1 and the character stroke width-to-height ratio should be between 1:5 and 1:10 (fig. 7).The letters and signs should preferably be raised at least 1 mm from the background, to enable sightless people to read the information using the tips of their fingers.The smallest letter type should not be less than 15 mm.Normal spacing between words and letters should be used.4. EXISTING CONSTRUCTIONSThe international symbol of accessibility should be added to mark accessible spaces and facilities.Directional signs should be added to indicate clearly the location and function of accessible spaces and facilities.Signs that do not comply with the above design requirements should be modified or replaced.

Notes:(1) Not all sightless persons are familiar with Braille.Fig. 1

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Interaction design and traffic signs[edit]When designingtraffic signsit is recommended to follow the four basic steps ofinteraction design: Identifying needs and establishing user requirements, developing alternative designs, buildinginteractiveversions, evaluating the designs.[2]Identifying needs and establishing requirements[edit]Drivers,cyclists,pedestriansand other types of pedestrians are the users that will be interacting withtraffic signs. These users are using the roadways for transportation purposes and must receive information about the roadways and their destinations as they are traveling.[2]Developing alternative designs[edit]This task is divided into two categories:conceptualdesign and physical design. Conceptual design will be the discussion of alternative traffic signs and ways of conveying information to the users. Physical design will be the discussion of what physical aspects (i.e. colour, shape, orientation) will be on the sign to convey the messages identified during the conceptual design.[2]Building interactive versions[edit]This task is the actual building of traffic signs. These can beprototypesof a very low or veryhigh fidelity.[2]Evaluating designs[edit]This task is the testing of the prototypes and actual signs in order to determine if they convey the desired message in the desired time by the appropriate users. This will let the users know the usability of their signs.[2]Design principles[edit]Traffic sign comprehension and understandability are higher when the signs comply withergonomicprinciples.[3]It is recommended to follow the below principles in order to increase driver comprehension and understandability.Spatial compatibility[edit]The matching between the physicalsymbolson a sign with the literal directions/information the sign is trying to convey. The physical arrangement in space, relative to the position of information and directions.[3] Application: Having a regulatory sign that informs a driver they must turn right, have an image of an arrow that curves to the right.Conceptual compatibility[edit]The correct association between the physical symbols on a sign and the information the sign is trying to convey. Good conceptual compatibility means that a driver will know the meaning of a symbol without having to reflect and interpret its meaning.[3] Application: Having an information sign that represents an airport, have an image of an airplane.Physical representation[edit]The similarity between the information that is being represented and the actual content on a sign. Good physical representation means that a driver will experience what is shown on a sign.[3] Application: Having a warning sign that means to watch for pedestrians have an image a person.Frequency[edit]Thefrequencythat which a sign appears will determine how familiar it is to drivers. Good frequency means that the sign is used often and that the meaning of its contents is well known.[3] Application: Having a regulatory sign that informs drivers of the current speed limit of the roadway be frequently placed along every road.Standardization[edit]The extent to which any sign can be grouped into a type of sign with similar or equal shape, colour and orientation. Goodstandardizationmeans that all signs of the same type have the same template of shape, colour and orientation. Ideally standardization should be across cities,regionsand countries.[4] Application: Having all warning signs have a diamond shape with a black border and a yellow background.Singular functionality[edit]The representation of only a single meaning for a single sign. Good singular functionality means that a sign that gives information should not also imply a regulatory meaning or another piece of related information.[4] Application: Having an information sign that signifies the beginning of a school zone should not also be meant to imply that the speed limit in this area is reduced.Visibility[edit]The extent to which any sign can be seen. It should be visible by drivers of all age groups from an appropriate distance that will allow the driver to react to the signs contents.Visibilityalso means that the sign has enough contrast with the background to be conspicuous and that the contents on the sign have enough contrast with the background of the sign to be conspicuous.[5] Application: Having a white regulatory sign have a black border with a black symbol and a red highlight. Solar-powered smart street signs that light up for easy reading at night, can add to readability.[6]