1. www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/ 24/01/2008

2. beta.hedkandi.com 24/01/2008

The most common sound effects on a computer are error messages and warning bleeps. Audio ques happen on the internet when a file has finished downloading or if a user has sound playing on their PC a click noise can sometimes be heard when a user clicks a link on the internet.

Error message bleeps happen to alert a user that they have done something wrong such as saving a file in a place where you dont have permission Fig 1. This is important because it immediately alerts the user to the error.

Other error message can include trying to rename a folder that you dont have permission to change Fig 2.

Warning sounds tend to be sharper, more high pitched sounds that alert the user if it is for maintenance or a file is auto saving Fig 3.

If you start a download off on the internet it can take several minutes to download so a user may click off the window and start doing something else. A noise is played to alert the user that the download is complete Fig 4.

Click sounds are sometimes heard when you click the back button for instance in a web browser. I think this is used to mirror the clicking of the mouse, it alerts the user that they have actually clicked the mouse.

Some websites use sound to attract the attention or a user this is especially apparent when a website is aimed at a children or teenagers. Websites such as www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/(1.) use sounds to their advantage by making the whole page interactive. Wherever you move the mouse something moves and things make a noise. I think this would keep a young child on the site as it would appeal to that age group.

Websites that are advertising a singer or band such as at www.beta.hedkandi.com(2.), you sometimes have music playing in the background of their website which is a good feature because if you are visiting their website then you would probably have an interest in their music already. However most of the time a user would simply turn the volume down or press mute when the music starts playing.

I tend to put audio in the same category as website splash screens, they are interesting at first but soon become irritating. This happens even more so when a user has to visit the website a number of times and has to sit though the same splash screen or noise sound effect. I think sound can be a great tool for a web developer used well and in moderation but not in such a way that it becomes all about the sounds and not the content of the website.

I think as you get older these kinds of bells and whistles just get annoying and a user would get distracted in the wrong way if they had to visit the site a number of times over a short period. I think with the design task we have been set, designing a new homepage for the iTunes online music store it would be inappropriate to include random sounds on the page as this is not what my intended target audience would be looking for.

Warning Sign

Fig 1

 

Error Sign

Fig 2

 

Information

Fig 3

 

Downloading

Fig 4