Analogy considered harmful

Halasz, Frank G.; Moran, Thomas P.

doi:10.1145/800049.801816

Cited by 177 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…In this way users can be aware of their current hyperspatial location in relation to surrounding hypernodes. However, metaphors tend to explain too much and provide lots of unnecessary information that can introduce new barriers, which makes even more difficult the interaction with hypermedia [24].…”

Section: Ergonomic Hypermedia Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Adaptation as a Behavioural Strategy: Preliminary Considerations for Web Interaction

Vigo¹,

Harper²

2011

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Section: Ergonomic Hypermedia Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Adaptation as a Behavioural Strategy: Preliminary Considerations for Web Interaction

Vigo¹,

Harper²

2011

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“…A great deal has been written about the role of metaphor in HCI and space does not permit an extended discussion of this, safe to say that its advocates claim that it reflects the very basis of our cognition (e.g. Lakoff and Johnson, 1999;Fauconnier and Turner, 2003) while others advise caution and regard it potentially harmful (Halasz and Moran, 1982). However Holyoak and Thagard (1995) have convincing argued for the mechanism by which metaphor and analogy operate.…”

Section: Intuitiveness and Familiaritymentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards an account of intuitiveness

Turner

2008

Behaviour & Information Technology

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Intuitive systems are usable systems. Design guidelines advocate intuitiveness and vendors claim itbut what does it mean for a user interface, interactive system or device to be intuitive? A review of the use of the term "intuitive" indicates that it has two distinct but overlapping meanings, namely intuitiveness based on familiarity and intuitiveness reflecting our embodiment (and frequently both). While everyday usage indicates that familiarity means either a passing acquaintance or an intimacy with something or someone, it will be concluded that familiarity might best be equated with "knowhow" which in turn is based on a deep, often tacit, understanding. The intuitive nature of tangible user interfaces will in turn be attributed to embodiment rather than tangibility per se. Merleau-Ponty writes that it is through our bodies that we "prehend" the world. A number of disciplines now regard actionperception as so closely coupled that they are better considered as a dyad rather than separately. A modified treatment of action-perception coupling is proposed, with familiarity providing an epistemic core, as the basis of intuitiveness.

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“…For example, Halasz and Moran (1982) suggest that algorithmic approaches are more useful, but the only example they give suggests the better applicability of the 'move' command to change a directory 'tree' rather than using the desktop metaphor, although both the 'move' command and the 'tree' structure were originally metaphors. More recent attacks have come from Nelson (1990) who commends spreadsheets and suggests using hypertext instead of metaphors, and Kay (1990) who offers agents as an alternative.…”

Section: Submission To Behaviour and Information Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Denotation and connotation in the human – computer interface: The ‘Save as …’ command

Condon¹,

Perry²,

O’Keefe³

2004

Behaviour & Information Technology

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This paper presents a semiotic technique as a means of exploring meaning and understanding in interface design and use. This is examined through a study of the interaction between the "file" metaphor and "save as" command metaphor. The behaviour of these (from a functional or computational basis) do not exactly match, or map onto, the meaning of the metaphor. We examine both the denotation of a term to the user, i.e. its literal meaning to that person, and the term's connotations, i.e. any other meanings associated with the term. We suggest that the technique applied is useful in predicting future problems with understanding the use of metaphor at the interface and with designing appropriate signification for human-computer interaction. Variation in connotation was expected but a more fundamental difference in denotation was also uncovered. Moreover, the results clearly demonstrate that consistency in the denotation of a term is critical in achieving a good user understanding of the command.

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Analogy considered harmful

Cited by 177 publications

References 5 publications

Human Adaptation as a Behavioural Strategy: Preliminary Considerations for Web Interaction

Human Adaptation as a Behavioural Strategy: Preliminary Considerations for Web Interaction

Towards an account of intuitiveness

Denotation and connotation in the human – computer interface: The ‘Save as …’ command

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