Standard icons for control functions on navigation systems – design and issues

Abstract

Icons are graphical images used to represent processes or functions on the interfaces of electronic systems. Effective icons must be easily comprehensible for users. Within the maritime domain, icons used on navigation systems are subjected to technical requirements. However, there is no study investigating the comprehensibility of such standard icons. Face-to-face interviews and an online survey were conducted to evaluate standard icons specified in the performance standards. The results show issues with a number of standard icons prescribed in IEC 62288:2014. Specifically, icons from three groups: a) standard Panel Illumination and Display Brilliance icons have optional features that reduce icon concreteness, b) icons for display orientation modes lack specification for the Course Up mode and the proposed icon is not sufficiently distinctive, c) the standard icon for Radar Performance Monitor depicts a concept familiar to equipment manufacturers but unfamiliar to users.