Speaker

The Speaker is an audio output component that plays a sound alert when its input signal changes state. When the connected signal transitions to ON (or OFF, depending on configuration), the Speaker emits an audible notification that draws the player's attention to the triggering condition. At 500 Science Points, the Speaker provides an essential alert mechanism that works even when the player is not looking at the relevant part of the map.

The Speaker connects to any automation signal source and triggers its audio alert based on signal transitions. This makes it ideal for critical warning systems that demand immediate player attention. Connect a Speaker to a Contamination Sensor to receive an audible alarm when Badwater enters your water supply, or wire it to a Population Counter tracking contaminated beavers to know instantly when your population is being poisoned. Unlike the Indicator (which requires visual monitoring), the Speaker's audio alert reaches the player regardless of camera position.

For effective alarm management, use Speakers sparingly and only for truly critical conditions. Connecting too many Speakers to frequently changing signals can create a cacophony that players learn to ignore. Best practice is to reserve Speakers for emergency-level alerts: Badwater contamination, critically low food or water, and drought onset. For less urgent monitoring, use Indicators instead. Combining a Speaker with an AND Gate that requires multiple bad conditions simultaneously (such as low water AND drought AND high contamination) creates a tiered alert system that only sounds when the situation is genuinely dire. Position Speakers at your colony's center where the audio carries to all areas of the map.