1 HN user recommended this news clip1 month2016–2022score 1
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
Cited as an example of effective alarm and voice-alert design and in discussions of reactions to female voices.
A short Boeing piece on the retirement of the voice behind the F/A-18 Super Hornet cockpit warning system, nicknamed Bitchin' Betty. It touches on why the stern voice alerts are used.
“one of my favorite examples of this type of work” (HN, 2016)
Along these same lines, one of my favorite examples of this type of work (human factors related to attention/alerting) is "Bitchin' Betty" and company - the female voice that makes up the "oral alert system" from the F/A-18 superhornet: [this video] A lot of research went into everything from the gender to the tone of the voice so that pilots would know to immediately pay attention to the warning system above everything else. [0] - [link]
The F/A-18 voice alert system and the research behind its design.
There is some science behind this. Studies have shown that people, both men and women, react differently to a female voice. Sometimes that reaction can make a real difference. [this video]
Evidence that people react differently to female voices.
Not just the USSR! The UK and US did the same too! For more info: [link] [this video] My personal opinion is the "Bitching Betty" voice with its crisp instructions and authoritative tone makes us subliminally think of our mother giving us guidance or reprimand at an early age. It is a great design; it has saved a TON of pilot lives who otherwise would have accidentally perished.
Background on the Bitching Betty cockpit voice warnings.
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