Communication via signage is based on function and purpose. The traffic signal is a good example of how a single color communicates without further explanation. When people cross a street they press the button on the traffic signal column. Then, the signal turns red to green in the crosswalk as the signal for the drivers turn green to red. In this case the human shape in the crosswalk signal is quite unnecessary because the effect is not the form but the color. A way to improve the efficiency of the form, the green light should show a human shape actually walking and the red light should show the shape stopping. In addition, since the signal lights on streets already implement a form of animation, blinking, adding simple motion to the existing system is not far from present practice.
the existing signal light
Some crosswalks have signal lights with an additional panel indicating how many seconds people have to cross the street. Numbers are universal but numerals symbols are not. In an extreme case, if a person does not know a numeral system they are just a bunch of odd shapes. In Asia, some crosswalks have signal lights with reducing light bars from top to bottom. In both systems, a signal light shows a static a green human shape along with how many seconds a person has to cross the street.
The recognition of counting down numbers is less effective than an animated bar with the signal. In other words, animated numbers just change their forms without decreasing their pixels or the density of light while an animated pixel or light bar visually shows time reducing. Inspired by these two examples, the ASOTYPE signal light maintains the human form and shows time reducing within the human, an intuitive cue.
Therefore, form becomes function with the help of animation. With this improved system of crosswalk signals, people are able to react quickly and cross safely.
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