<
https://theconversation.com/the-sound-of-our-cities-why-the-australian-pedestrian-button-belongs-in-our-archives-279559>
"The PB/5 pedestrian crossing button is an immediately identifiable product in
our physical and aural urban landscape.
Now inducted into the National Film Sound Archive of Australia’s
2026 Sounds
of Australia, it is one of very few physical objects selected for the archive.
It joins the Fairlight CMI digital synthesiser, inducted in 2015, and the
Speaking Clock, inducted in 2024.
The sound of the Australian pedestrian crossing was initially conceived as a
priority to assist visually impaired pedestrians. But is also benefits other
people. It is now an instantly recognisable and unmistakable prompt of when to,
and when not to, “walk”: the slow “tick” beat indicating a wait signal is
replaced with the repetitive faster “dit-dit-dit-dit” of when to walk.
Many Australians will recognise the sound as uniquely Australian and part of
our built urban soundscape. But how much sound around us is designed?"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
