Ticket Validation

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Ticket Validator, Ticket Stamper, Ticket-canceling Machine, Ticket-dating Machine, Automatic Check-In, Insert Ticket, Validate Ticket

Category

Public Facilities, Travel, Transport Facilities, Services

Message / Function

To indicate the location of a ticket validation facility

	Source	Description
	ISO 7001	Hand in outline, holding ticket being inserted into machine
	ÖNORM A 3011	Hand holding ticket being inserted into machine
	CNIS	Hand holding ticket being inserted into machine
	Tern	Hand holding ticket being inserted into machine
	DB	Hand holding ticket being inserted into machine
	UIC 413	Hand holding ticket being inserted into machine
	DB 1994	Hand holding ticket being inserted into machine
	SNCF 1994	Hand holding ticket being inserted into machine
	FS 1994	Hand holding ticket being inserted into machine
	BS 8501:2002	Hand holding ticket being inserted into machine
	MTA	Hand holding ticket being inserted into machine
	BVG	Slot with ticket, below triangle pointing upwards
	Aicher OAP	Slot with ticket, arrow pointing upwards below

Discussion

The selection above shows that there are only two main concepts concerning the image content: mostly a hand holding a ticket being inserted into a slot, and on the other hand a slot with a ticket plus something like an arrow below, pointing upwards.

Data available from two Comprehension Tests conducted in Austria indicates correct understanding of symbol No 80 of ÖNORM A 3011 part 4 among 77.3 % of young respondents (Brugger, 1982) and 62 % in a second sample including senior citizens (Brugger, 1983). While some context information was provided in the first test, this information was missing in the second. With context infomation 98 % of the answers were related to tickets, but without any context information 23 % of the responses were 'Mail Box' and another 9 % associated the variant tested with 'Ticket Machine'. Regarding real life applications one can expect acceptable comprehensibility for this pictogram.

With about 85 % correct responses among Chinese respondents an almost identical symbol of the Chinese standard GB/T 10001.1-2012, Public Information Graphical Symbols, labeled CNIS in the table above, performed well enough to recommend this concept (An & Chan, 2017).

Recommendations

TicketValidation

Based on test results available and regarding design aspects we recommend the use of a pictogram like Public Information Symbol No 80 of ÖNORM A 3011 part 4 to indicate the location of ticket validation facility.

Tests of pictograms of referent Ticket Validation

An, D. & Chan, E.H.W. (2017): Investigating the Comprehension of Public Symbols for Wayfinding in Transit Hubs in China. In: Rau, PL. (eds) Cross-Cultural Design. CCD 2017. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 10281. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57931-3_24

Brugger, Ch. (1982): Ergänzungen zur Studie über die Verbesserung der Beschilderung im Aussteigebereich von Schlepp- und Sesselliften. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute (ON) dated October 1982, Vienna.

Brugger, Ch. (1983): Abschlußbericht über den Erkennungstest. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute (ON) dated May 1983, Vienna.