Analysis of factors influencing perceived urgency and auditory preference for auditory warning signals

In the context of intelligence and experience, auditory interaction has become a research focus. To investigate the impact of auditory warnings on drivers' perceived urgency and their auditory preferences, this study describes tests conducted on subjects using various warning characteristics. In a laboratory setting, 45 test subjects completed evaluation tasks for auditory warning signals involving three timbres (xylophone, piano, flute), three sound types (pure tone burst, continuous pure tone, melodic sound), three frequencies (500 Hz, 1250 Hz, 2000 Hz), and three rhythms (120 BPM, 60 BPM, 40 BPM). The evaluation included assessments of perceived urgency and subjective preference. Non-parametric tests were conducted on the experimental data, and correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between perceived urgency and auditory preference. Findings reveal significant influences of timbre, sound type, frequency, and rhythm on perceived urgency. Timbre, sound type, and rhythm also significantly impact drivers' preference scores. Faster rhythms increase perceived urgency, while slower rhythms decrease both urgency and preference. Flute timbre and continuous pure tone are perceived as most urgent but are less preferred by drivers.