100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People, 2nd Edition

48 Loud Noises Startle and get Attention

If you want to get someone’s attention with a sound, Table 48.1 describes some choices and when to use each one (adapted from Deatherage, 1972).

Table 48.1 How to get attention with sounds

Audio alarm	Intensity	Attention-getting ability
Foghorn	Very high	Good, but not if there is a lot of other low-frequency noise
Regular horn	High	Good
Whistle	High	Good, but only if intermittent
Siren	High	Good if pitch rises and falls
Bell	Medium	Good when there is other low-frequency noise
Buzzer	Low to medium	Good
Chimes or gong	Low to medium	Fair

People Habituate to Auditory Stimuli

Have you visited with someone who had a clock that chimed every hour? You’re lying in bed about to doze off, ...