Earcons - An earcon is a brief, structured sound pattern used to represent a specific item or event but is not to be confused with an auditory icon. The term was coined in 1989. The earcon can be parametrized by specific attributes of the item or event. Although likely to be used in a computer/user interface, an example could also be a five-day weather forecast on a local news program where each day's temperatures set the pitches in a five tone sequence.
Earcons are generally not auditory caricatures of the signified, that is, they are abstract rhythmic/melodic patters rather than everyday so
unds.
Earcons are generally synthesized sounds, while auditory icons are usually recorded from existing everyday occurrences.
The best original article on Earcons is
Blattner, Meera M., Denise A. and Greenbery, Robert M. (1989) 'Earcons and Icons: Their Sturcture and Common Design Principles', Human-Computer Interaction, 4:1, 11-14
Gave this reference on blog Tuesday 1st September.
Example of sound on scale
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