Fargeskjermer

Fargeskjermer is a Norwegian linguistic compound meaning “colour screens.” The term is used primarily in contexts where coloured visual displays form an integral part of signalling or information presentation. In maritime and aeronautical circles, fargeskjermer describes a group of colour‑coded panels or indicator screens on a ship’s bridge or an aircraft’s cockpit that convey status information, such as engine health, navigation data or communication priorities. Each colour—commonly red, amber, green or blue—corresponds to a pre‑agreed state, allowing crew members to assess conditions quickly without reading text.

The concept emerged in the 1970s when a transition from monochrome tick‑box displays to graphical colour outputs was adopted by naval and civil aviation authorities. In the 1980s the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment published technical guidelines for fargeskjermer, standardising pane sizes, colour contrasts and fail‑safe behaviour. The guidelines influenced the design of contemporary “colour alert panels” still used in Norwegian coast guard vessels and on the control couches of regional airlines.

In recent years fargeskjermer has expanded into civilian infrastructure. Urban transport hubs, weather forecasters, and emergency response centres employ colour‑screen systems that merge the same visual logic used by military and aviation units. The adoption of high‑resolution colour LCD panels and touch‑responsive interfaces has increased consistency across sectors, enabling cross‑training of personnel and simplifying the conveyance of critical information.

Related terminology includes the singular fargeskjerm, the Swedish counterpart färgskärm, and the worldwide industry term colour‑encoded information‑display. The continued use of colour‑based signalling remains a subject of research in human‑computer interaction studies, particularly regarding colour‑blind accessibility and high‑contrast performance.