48. Loud noises startle and get attention

Untitled (binary/octet-stream)

Caption: : How to get attention with sounds. Weinschenk, Susan. “100 Things: Every Designer Needs to Know About People.” O'Reilly | Safari, O'Reilly Media, Inc., www.oreilly.com/library/view/100-things-every/9780132658638/ch48.html.

Loud Fail Noise Button Sound Effect (Embed)

If you are designing an application, you may have control over the sounds that occur when a people take certain actions, for example, making a mistake, reaching a goal, or donating money.  

Caption: : Music, Isolation. “Loud Fail Noise Button Sound Effect.” YouTube, YouTube, 22 Feb. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZmqR7srZwg.

Pick a sound that is appropriate to the amount of attention you need. Save the high-attention sounds for when it’s really important, for example, if people are about to format their hard drives, or take an action that can’t be undone.  

Windows XP Recycle Sound (Embed)

Caption: : Clements, Huw. “Windows XP Recycle Sound.” YouTube, YouTube, 18 Dec. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpeoyRKWAiQ.

If you use sounds to get attention, then consider changing them so that people will not habituate and the sounds will continue to be attention-getting.  

Attention sound - Attention Bell / royalty free (Embed)

Caption: : SnowMusicStudio. “Attention Sound - Attention Bell / Royalty Free.” YouTube, YouTube, 9 Feb. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkzBbDLWAjg.