Rocker Switch Tactile Coding and Direction of Motion Stereotypes

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a series of direction of motion stereotype studies which were conducted to determine how tactile switch coding influenced drivers' choices of initial control movement direction. First encounters with automotive rocker switches which had been mounted in various locations and orientations throughout the passenger compartment were evaluated. Motion stereotypes for these bi-directional switches were found to vary from chance levels (50% of drivers preferring either direction of movement) to a 99%/l% preference depending upon tactile coding schemes, switch orientations, labeling and switch locations.

Green Expectations

“…In the US, it is expected that a switch down is off and a switch up is on. However, in Great Britain, it is the opposite; down is on and up is off (Jack, 1985;Flach 1995).…”

Environmental Control Issues in a New Energy-Efficient Building

“…We then inspected the lighting controls in other rooms and noted issues in the interactions. Our inspections took into consideration well-established usability principles relevant to environmental control systems, such as the importance of maintaining stimulus-response compatibility (e.g., Fitts & Seeger, 1953; Fitts & Deininger, 1954; Proctor & Vu, 2006) and conforming to user expectancies and stereotypes (Peacock & Schlegel, 2004; Lewis, 1986; and Jack, 1985) as well as common design heuristics.…”