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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2013 22:05:28 GMT
By 'line diagrams' I mean the metal panels on platforms that have a diagram of the available routes from that platform. Where the Overground has taken over NR stations new panels have been fitted.
West Croydon Platform 3 (the main Up platform) is a very good example of what I am talking about. West Croydon lies to the south of every possible destination from Platform 3, yet the diagram puts West Croydon at the top, with Dalston Junction, Victoria, London Bridge, etc, spread out underneath. South at the top, north at the bottom.
What is the logic behind these 'upside down' diagrams?
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Post by Dstock7080 on Jan 15, 2013 22:25:17 GMT
By 'line diagrams' I mean the metal panels on platforms that have a diagram of the available routes from that platform. Where the Overground has taken over NR stations new panels have been fitted. West Croydon Platform 3 (the main Up platform) is a very good example of what I am talking about. West Croydon lies to the south of every possible destination from Platform 3, yet the diagram puts West Croydon at the top, with Dalston Junction, Victoria, London Bridge, etc, spread out underneath. South at the top, north at the bottom. What is the logic behind these 'upside down' diagrams? If you are referring to these: www.flickr.com/photos/24772733@N05/5824406541/sizes/z/in/set-72157604713554022/it is common practice to place the starting station at the top. eg. northbound to Highbury: www.flickr.com/photos/24772733@N05/5550247881/in/set-72157604713554022 |
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Post by snoggle on Jan 15, 2013 23:09:02 GMT
By 'line diagrams' I mean the metal panels on platforms that have a diagram of the available routes from that platform. Where the Overground has taken over NR stations new panels have been fitted. West Croydon Platform 3 (the main Up platform) is a very good example of what I am talking about. West Croydon lies to the south of every possible destination from Platform 3, yet the diagram puts West Croydon at the top, with Dalston Junction, Victoria, London Bridge, etc, spread out underneath. South at the top, north at the bottom. What is the logic behind these 'upside down' diagrams? It's the standard form of TfL sign presentation. Many people have no idea where north or south is relative to where they are at a given point in time. To create signage which relies on such knowledge would be potentially confusing. English script is read top to bottom and left to right. The signs follow the top to bottom "logic". I suspect the average person would struggle with a reverse / pure geographic form of presentation for a line of route sign. Clearly people can cope with horizontal signage for LU car line diagrams even though the line in question may actually run north to south. I can't think of a railway line sign in the UK which uses geographically correct logic. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2013 20:28:15 GMT
You don't rate the 'average person' very highly! A 'line of route' sign could well be next to an TfL map with Underground and Overground lines shown and these have always been in conventional 'north at the top' format. An 'average person' might well think that having one contradict the other is rather silly.
Underground cars are a special case - there is mostly only one line shown and many of the routes run east-ish to west-ish anyway.
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Post by snoggle on Jan 16, 2013 23:19:57 GMT
You don't rate the 'average person' very highly! A 'line of route' sign could well be next to an TfL map with Underground and Overground lines shown and these have always been in conventional 'north at the top' format. An 'average person' might well think that having one contradict the other is rather silly. Underground cars are a special case - there is mostly only one line shown and many of the routes run east-ish to west-ish anyway. Nothing to do with how I rate anyone. I don't write the standards that govern these things. I thought it was a well understood point that a significant part of the population struggles with maps, map reading and direction finding. I would guess the standards are set to be as simple as possible. For those who can cope with maps and geography then they may find things that comply with the standards too simple or counter untuitive for them. There is, as you say, a "north at the top" logic for maps. It doesn't necessarily follow that a diagram would employ the same logic. Relevant standards for your original example are here www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/overground-signs-standard-issue03_1.pdfwww.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/tfl-line-diagram-standard-issue03.pdfAnyway I don't think we're going to agree so let's leave it at that. |
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