Definitions
icon
sign/symbol
metaphor

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

First published as a refereed paper in Digital Creativity 2000, extended for the www

Paper size: US Letter
No. pages: 22
Word count: 9,345
Download size: 272K

This paper addresses the issue of designing icons for the Graphical User Interface by exploring what design rules have evolved from established graphic design principles and, of these, which can be successfully adapted for the Graphical User Interface. In order to establish what those design possibilities are, computer icons can be gauged against how other elements of design are used and their design criteria. Computer symbols are rarely designed as individuals, but as families. These families of icons are compared against other systems to establish what their requirements are and how this impacts upon icon design.

A Comparison between Maya Hieroglyphs and Computer Icons

First published as a refereed paper in AI and Society 2000

Paper size: US Letter
No. pages: 17
Word count: 6,194
Download size: 280K

This paper explores a successful writing system from the past that has retained visual characteristics to inform computer iconography of the present, by using what is known about one system to suggest new ideas about the other. This article uses examples of Maya hieroglyphs, Internet icons, and parts of other contemporary symbol systems either forced, or as a natural development of visual language, to compare individual or reused elements of these systems. Then to consider the potential of visual language systems that have been refined, and used over a long period of time against computer icons which are a recent development.

Unpublished

Paper size: US Letter
No. pages: 18
Word count: 7,600
Download size: 184K

This paper explores the relationship between compound computer icons and natural written language. The understanding of what an icon represents can be open to an ambiguous interpretation, therefore why certain symbols need to be underpinned with language are investigated. Other symbol systems appear successful without any association to natural written language. These language independent symbol systems are expected to be understood regardless of the appearing denotative and connotative values of that symbol. Visual language systems such as ISO (International Standards Organisation) are regulated and are expected to be learned by users. ISO symbols are compared to systems where written language has been used, this will facilitate an analysis through comparison of 'stand alone' icons and icons underpinned with words that form Internet navigation and task guidance.

Intellect Paperback
Visual Language for the WWW
Honeywill, P., 1999
230x174mm, 192 pages
ISBN 1-871516-76-5
£14.95 $29.95

Through trade we have always needed to record and convey information, but are there lessons for us today by looking to the earliest communication forms?

Since the Maya hieroglyphs in the new world or the pre-cuneiform Sumerian some 6,000 years ago in the old world, the process of communication has been experimented with, eliminating weak solutions. Now we find ourselves returning to the the oldest forms through the demands of the World Wide Web. Common computer interfaces have returned the development of visual language to the user. Accordingly computer icons have developed through natural selection.

This book gives an accessible perspective on computer-mediated communication, exploring - symbol/visual language systems - Graphical User Interfaces - graphic design principles - elements of computer iconography that are reused and which characteristics allow an icon to give unambiguous, clear intention. The book has been written to complement this website.

Why -
some icons have succeeded
some need specialist knowledge to be understood
some icons need to be underpinned with language
some function independently

Contents
Learning from the Past to Inform the Present: Maya Hieroglyphic Writing
Designing Icons for the Graphical User Interface
Partial Writing Systems such as Isotype
Computer Compound Icons and their Families
Evaluating Representative and Abstract Computer
Compound Icons
Navigating Interfaces
Interfaces that use Real World Metaphors
Icons from around the World

order from USA
order from UK

order direct from the publisher

Paper size: US letter
No. pages: 1
Download size: 38K

First published as a book chapter in Iconic Communication 2000

Paper size: A4 Small
No. pages: 31
Word count: 6,987
Download size: 841K

Observing people using computers might suggest that those who don’t ask for assistance or an explanation are probably achieving their task. This is an assumption – an empirical approach would be to get behind the interface and track, monitor and generate a computer report on how users react to different interface metaphors which range from abstract to representative and among their own family compound icon groups, to discover without bias what precisely happens. This chapter is in three parts:

An explanation of an interface that has user tracking and monitoring built into the program so that the data will record the users exact positions and routes through an interface,

system interface iconography, and

identifying interface visual language that has naturally evolved throughout the world wide web and how this will determine which interface icons might be a stating point to build a test interface that tracks, monitors and reports on user comprehension.