metaphors c. corritore. 2 of 22 metaphors drawing on previous knowledge/models that are similar to...

Metaphors

C. Corritore

Copyright 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Inc 2 of 22

Metaphors

drawing on previous knowledge/models that are similar to current situation -describe metaphor verbally & explicitly allows one to function in new situation let’s us take knowledge of familiar items/situations

and apply them to novel or abstract things goes back to analogies


[Verbal] Metaphors

we do this all the time arguments in terms of war

marshall your arguments attack their position win the argument

“Let’s take a look at metaphors” a seeing metaphor for an abstract process

computers my machine is acting irrational, crabby, stupid


Creating metaphors

Two components are involved elements: the objects relationships between objects

Obviously, new situation (computer) won’t map entirely onto metaphor of person or similar machine seems metaphor enables dis-similarities to be identified

and incorporated into a new model (for the computer) Apple's User Interface Guidelines states, "Use

concrete metaphors and make them plain, so that users have a set of expectations to apply to computer environments."


Creating metaphors

how to functional definition - understand how it works ID users problems - what is not clear to them? create the metaphor - generate many so can evaluate

and test them (come from first two steps) evaluate metaphor

if you use these, use them fully pay attention to the details - it’s all in the details

digressions tolerated if made obvious good reference:

http://www.firelily.com/opinions/metaphor.html (process for building them)


Examples of metaphors

desktop book slide show museum mail calendar clipboard

how many things can you put on it?


Examples of metaphors

Metaphor Attributesspreadsheet row, column, calculation, cell, scripts run on multiple cells,

graphical reports, templates, accounting, cost estimationroadmap roads, legend, exit, street names, landmarks, trip planner,

one- way streets, detours, tollswarehouse shelves, fork lift, part number, inventory, access method (fork lift

vs. roller skates), supplier, customercafeteria trays, stations, take-out, place where you get utensils, place

where you pay, automat, coffee refills, condiments

circus ringmaster, three rings, clowns, high wire, multiple simultaneous events, barkers, side show, animals, food vendors in the aisles, master of ceremonies

building windows, hallways, heating system, doorway, elevators, room numbers, addresses, organization by floors and corridors,

vending machines, electricity, power, distinctive interior decoration

movie script stage directions, setting, characters, lines, view, zoom, pan, montage, fade to black, dissolve, inset, script, props

train conductor, caboose, track, tickets, cars with special functions (such as diner, sleeper), stations to stop at, derailment

playground sandbox, teeter-totter, trash can, slide, benches, fence to enclose, curfew, attendants, caretakers, presence of peers


Projecting the metaphor

Can encourage this on part of user by: in documentation, say “when drag file to another

folder, this is like putting your paper in a different file folder”

this fosters a mental model of a file system (but comes with a lot of baggage)

? when drag a file from My Documents to folder My Work, is file being moved to the new file?


Projecting the metaphor

Designer makes the object/relationships mimic the real world (ie. look like it, act like it, etc). idea is that user will recognize they are in

office environment at a desktop and will function accordingly

icons that look like real items they represent, etc. an electronic world created that represents

physical world (mental model and presentation/interface combined into one package)


Evaluating metaphors

brings structure? if vague, doesn’t add much to have a metaphor

how applicable is it? Does it fit? how easily can it be represented in the interface? does it fit the target user group?

concept of pointers to non-programmers is it extendible? (brings a richer context) good metaphors - ubiquitous


Problems with metaphors

how represent actions that go beyond or aren’t present in real world? cut and paste between apps ‘magical’ activities that extend beyond the metaphor

what about elements/relationships that don’t follow the metaphor? in verbal metaphor, person making the connections so

aware it won’t fit perfectly (not upset when doesn’t) here, designer presenting metaphor so user assumes it will

fit (non-fits are surprises) Problem example: desktop metaphor - and stack of

papers/windows


Examples of poor metaphors

bad interface metaphor can suggest an incorrect model of a system – so can mislead users into believing that an event has occurred when it has not

Erickson (90) – voice mail system and utilization of ‘mailboxes in which

messages may be left’ suggests messages left here in real time directly in reality, can be substantial time delay as they are not ‘directly

deposited’ metaphor of an ‘answering service’ might be better

deleting files on a Mac humans don’t like false-negative decisions (decide not to

when could have) – better to err on the side of caution users ‘gut feelings’ (Roher)


Examples of poor metaphors

Interface Hall of Shame: Metaphors

http://homepage.mac.com/bradster/iarchitect/metaphor.htm report of the demise of “Clippie” is here


Solution: composite metaphors

found that people are OK with mixtures of models that can explain discrepancies eg. windows, scroll bars in desktop model ? applications multitasking - what is model for this?

problems with models: users that work through weird exceptions (ah-hah) develop stronger models males vs. females on experimentation cost of experimentation by software


Relation to conceptual/mental models

conceptual model made up of metaphors so important to impart this correctly to user

terms: design model (conceptual model) system image (how design model is related to

user user model (mental model)


Relation to conceptual/mental models

goal of designer is to facilitate user development of a mental model of system that maps to their design model this allows user to access functionality that

designer intended/designed into system keep in mind mental models have problems

inaccurate firmly held - hard to change, will use wrong

one even if know it’s wrong so simplifying


Development of mental models

How does user develop model of system? from the system image

physical interface (how looks, devices, etc) - elements

don’t’ forget motor memory behavior of system (relation between elements,

their functionality, responsiveness, error catching, feedback)

documentation (help systems, manuals, first time user guided tours of system)

Problem when gulf between user and design mental model of system


Design Implications

Tog - idea that your system is the framework of a car - you are creating the skin that goes over that similar analogy - software wrappers

another interesting idea - test users, then ask what they remember - then fix this stuff again, if invisible (ubiquitous), then means it is

working


Design Implications

consistency more important in interpretation of user

behavior than elements/objects follow published guidelines and standards don’t change something unless must

then make a big change - obvious add new skillsets rather than modify existing

can change look/feel if metaphor remains the same


Ubiquitous vs. Direct Manipulation

Ubiquitous - Means technology is invisible and works without your direct attention intelligent badges so phone calls routed to your location person as a computer (shake hands, exchange data) -

anthropomorphic good: focus on task, decreases your conceptual load,

don’t have to worry about metaphor/interface (invisible) bad: loss of control, if problem occurs, don’t know how

to fix it, ascribe intelligence agent technology (Patti Maes and MIT) – unsupervised

intelligence Current example – Firefly at Amazon


Ubiquitous vs. Direct Manipulation

Direct Manipulation: you directly make things happen (Ben Schneiderman, U of M) drag something over with mouse, etc. good: gives you control and sense of control bad: requires your time and attention,

repetitive tasks annoying, requires excellent interface

Current example: plug and play devices


Anthropormorphism

a lot of research on social interaction between humans and computers (Reeves & Nass) basically thus far shown that users interact with computers in

same manner as with people definitely affects attention, evaluation of information (more

positive), perception, memory Expectations

Virgin Mobile 1-888-322-1122 Sam - http://www.meteosam.com/eng/index.php kismit -

http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/sociable/movies/kismet-and-rich.mov

metaphors c. corritore. 2 of 22 metaphors drawing on previous knowledge/models that are similar to...

Documents

john wiley sons

metaphor of person

new model

file system

new situationlets

different file folderthis

access method fork lift

multiple cells