Definitions
icon
sign/symbol
metaphor

Icons that have influenced the choice of metaphor

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Website, ISO and systems software icons that have influenced other interfaces, which have been copied, altered in some form and reused.

Overall, there is a semantic and lexical commonality between the Internet icons used on these websites. Therefore, the primary group of metaphors for each section suggests that one representation has more common use than another, creating a semantic hierarchy between the sections of a category. Rendering one section potentially more comprehensible among an Internet community.

It is not only the semantic hierarchy that impacts upon recognition, but also the design of a family of icons that are relevant to the design of a website. Many appear to do precisely this, but when this is not so, a lack of family completeness can create; 1) discrepancies of subtle cultural differences, when icons have been downloaded from one countries website and used on another without changes being made, such as Yugoslavia, or 2) when computer symbols appear visually conflicting although the metaphor might be appropriate, such as the Bolivian website which can be contrasted against an Italian website, or 3) like the Pakistani website which has used the icons from a Canadian website, making it appear culturally awkward.

Metaphors that have been reused

Austria