Comments on: User Interface Metaphors http://uitrends.com/2009/09/17/user-interface-metaphors/ A place to catalog, discuss, and rate trends in user interface design Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:41:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1-beta By: Max http://uitrends.com/2009/09/17/user-interface-metaphors/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Max Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:10:35 +0000 http://uitrends.com/?p=854#comment-178 Metaphors are quite powerful as you rightly say. However, it's easy to carry it too far. The On/Off switch in the bottom left of above graphic is a prime example. A whole lot of precious screen real estate used while not effectively conveying it state. IMHO, a metaphor should be primarily used as an inspiration for the UI as a whole, while using standard OS controls for the individual elements. Either that, or find an effective idiom. Metaphors are quite powerful as you rightly say. However, it’s easy to carry it too far. The On/Off switch in the bottom left of above graphic is a prime example. A whole lot of precious screen real estate used while not effectively conveying it state.
IMHO, a metaphor should be primarily used as an inspiration for the UI as a whole, while using standard OS controls for the individual elements. Either that, or find an effective idiom.

]]> By: Allan http://uitrends.com/2009/09/17/user-interface-metaphors/comment-page-1/#comment-158 Allan Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:52:06 +0000 http://uitrends.com/?p=854#comment-158 Hmmmm. I don't know which way to vote on this one, so I won't. A metaphor that is close fitting to the solution space can be a powerful aid in managing a user's intuition. But it doesn't take much of a miss to introduce surprise and lack of anticipation in the user interface. Hmmmm. I don’t know which way to vote on this one, so I won’t. A metaphor that is close fitting to the solution space can be a powerful aid in managing a user’s intuition. But it doesn’t take much of a miss to introduce surprise and lack of anticipation in the user interface.

]]> By: Tweets that mention User Interface Metaphors | User Interface Trends -- Topsy.com http://uitrends.com/2009/09/17/user-interface-metaphors/comment-page-1/#comment-148 Tweets that mention User Interface Metaphors | User Interface Trends -- Topsy.com Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:58:44 +0000 http://uitrends.com/?p=854#comment-148 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Russell Wilson. Russell Wilson said: User Interface Metaphors http://bit.ly/2UCynV [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Russell Wilson. Russell Wilson said: User Interface Metaphors http://bit.ly/2UCynV [...]

]]>