Since the early 1980s there has been an increased interest in research on warnings. This chapter has several objectives. First, we describe the purpose of warnings and where warnings fit with other safety considerations, such as design and guarding. Next, we present a model that incorporates both communication and information-processing concepts, which is characteristic of theoretical orientations that have guided much of the warning research. The research and application issues have generally focused on two themes: design factors and non-design factors that influence warning effectiveness. Third, we review the progress and status of research and application, with an emphasis on identifying those factors that appear to be most important in determining warning effectiveness. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of some of the challenges and opportunities facing warning designers and researchers in the future.
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