“Bitchin’ Betty” Says Farewell: Beloved Voice Behind Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet Retires

Name: “Bitchin’ Betty” Says Farewell: Beloved Voice Behind Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet Retires
Uploaded: 2016-03-07T20:44:52Z
Duration: 99 s
Description: 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.

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2.1M views · Mar 7, 2016 · 1:39 · 1 HN recommender · 3 mentions · discussed 2016–2022

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.

Why Hacker News points people here: Cited as an example of effective alarm and voice-alert design and in discussions of reactions to female voices.

“one of my favorite examples of this type of work”HN comment, 2016

Aviation & aerospace engineering UX & UI design #f/a-18 #bitchin' betty #alarm design #aviation #voice alerts

What Hacker News said 3

RecommendsdfsegoatNov 2016

“one of my favorite examples of this type of work”

The F/A-18 voice alert system and the research behind its design.

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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

Cites itsandworm101May 2017

“Studies have shown that people, both men and women, react differently to a female voice.”

Evidence that people react differently to female voices.

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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

Cites itiwillbeniceOct 2022

“For more info”

Background on the Bitching Betty cockpit voice warnings.

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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.