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Weblog:   Icons, Usability and Computers
Subject:   if the paradigm is language
Date:   2006-01-25 00:00:26
From:   rufferto
If what we are looking for icons as "universal language" then we really should take the creation of these little pictures out of the hands of corporations and come up with some standards. This is already done with the icons used on cable connectors, on some special keys, etc. The on/off symbol, the firewire symbol, the raise and lower volume symbols are essentially universal. At the very least, the various software products should stick to variations on the same theme for their "class" of application.


Of course the current situation functions because there are some universal aspects to the way in which icons are used and treated. A user learns that they represent applications or documents or files, so they can learn how to find out more about the icon and later come to associate its representation with that particular function no matter how absurd and divorced from the real underlying idea they become.


As new products appear and take over functionality from other software perhaps over time we will see an evolution of the icons to the point where computer interface becomes a bit like looking at chinese characters.