Recently I overheard a woman say “I don’t do well with things that don’t cry or bark”. Whether or not you relate to that comment in particular, the underlying issue is that we are used to navigating our everyday lives with our ears as well as our sight. When UI’s lack this element, it can be uneasy and even cause delay and confusion. UI noises are not just witty additions just for kicks. When used correctly, they can actually be quite useful. The OSX crunching noise tells you your trash has been emptied, the “boiung” noise lets you know you’ve actually made a drop into a folder, and messenger notifications let you know someone has sent you a message. These noises become an integral part of our interactions and can at times communicate faster and more effectively than visual cues.

MSN UI sounds

Mac Evolution Sounds