Togetherness "An Ordinary Traffic Signal"

[Dave Monroe]

"Positive, error-proof communication between
load-master and anchor winch is provided at onloadings
by a three-light system which looks like an ordinary
traffic signal. Red means 'stop,' green means 'wind in
cable,' amber means 'let out cable.' One big advantage
is that the system works efficiently even around a
high noise level area. And with '707s, B-52s, KC-135s
and other heavies warming up, taxiing and taking off
most of the time, that noise level can get pretty
high." (Togetherness)


"an ordinary traffic signal"

The first crude traffic light was a manually operated
gas lantern installed in London around 1868. The
signal consisted of two colors -- red meant "stop,"
while green meant "caution." One day the lantern
exploded and injured the policeman who was operating
it. It was painfully obvious a more efficient traffic
signal was needed.

In 1920 Police Officer William Potts addressed the
chaotic traffic of Detroit, Michigan, by co-opting the
red, amber, and green automatic traffic light system
used on railroads. Around the same time, the prolific
African American inventor Garrett Morgan devised and
patented the precursor to the automatic traffic lights
we use today. 

Apparently the colors of red and green were standard
in the electrical industry at the time. The makers of
railroad signals and traffic lights simply adopted the
familiar color scheme. 

We can really only speculate as to why these colors
were originally used in the industry. An About.com
entry on color symbolism points out that different
colors evoke different emotions in humans. Red
generally symbolizes danger or warning, making it a
good choice for "stop." Green is calming to us,
probably because it is prolific in nature and a sign
of health and abundance, so it might have lent itself
to mean "go." 

Curiously, yellow or amber, is associated with warmth,
happiness, and the sun. Despite these connotations, it
was chosen to symbolize "caution." Perhaps because it
contrasts well with green and red, and is highly
visible without being too harsh on the eyes of
motorists. Today, yellow is commonly used as a warning
symbol for both traffic signs and alert systems. 

http://ask.yahoo.com/ask/20031023.html

And see as well ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_signal

http://www.fact-index.com/t/tr/traffic_light.html


"'707s, B-52s, KC-135s"

Boeing 707

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/707family/

http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=87

http://www.aviation-history.com/boeing/707.html

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=83

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/b-52.htm

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/b52-strat/b52info.html

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=110

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/kc-135r.htm

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/kc135-strat/kc135info.html

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