Signage in the virtual world....

Should instructions be any different than in the real world... whilst we have plenty of opportunity to make things dynamic with added functionality.. I think that there is enough investigation going on in what is quite an alien environment without having to click on inanimate objects to get a response... that was an earlier ergonomic software worls - as things get more realistic I think we want to super emulate reality... but we want to know where we are and how we do it..

I asked a designer who used to work as a design authority for signage: Lance Bohl; he recommended that the organisations involved in shaping disability policyseemed to currently offer best practise.This  seemed to fit in with the aspirations of my site so I melded a few other industry standards and produced my signage in accordance  to this....

Sign groups: information, way-finding, location and safety Schemes should be planned with care, directions must follow a logical progression throughout the area. Never place signs with potential obstructions or cannot be touched i.e. on doors, on walls behind tables, stacking areas, or counters such as receptions or buffets.

All signs should be short simple messages, and un-ambiguous consistent in positioning and style, using clear plain lettering (eg Arial) in mixed case, slightly embossed for tactility, with good colour contrast such as dark characters on a white or pale yellow signboard or vice-versa (Avoid red and green for sector identification as they can be difficult for people with colour blindness)

. All signs must be none reflective, well illuminated by day or night and should not be placed against a background of sunlight or artificial light.

Signboards should be matt, have colour contrast with their background or have a border.

other useful sources were the JMU Access Partnership who have provided consulative work for the RNIB website at www.rnib.org.uk/prof

Newcastle Disability Forum www.ndf.org.uk                             September 2007