A Semiotic Model of User-Interface Metaphor

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A Semiotic ModelofUser-Interface Metaphor

• Pippin Barr
• Robert Biddle, James Noble

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User-Interface Metaphor
You can take advantage of people's knowledge of
the world around them by using metaphors to
convey concepts and features of your application.
Use metaphors involving concrete, familiar ideas
and make the metaphors plain, so that users have
a set of expectations to apply to computer
environments. (Apple Computer Inc., 1992)
Familiar metaphors provide a direct and
intuitive interface to user tasks. By allowing
users to transfer their knowledge and experience,
metaphors make it easier to predict and learn the
behaviors of software-based representations.
(Microsoft Corporation, 1995)
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The Peircean Triad
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Ecos Model Reader
To make his text communicative, the author has to
assume that the ensemble of codes he relies upon
is the same as that shared by his possible
reader. The author has thus to foresee a model of
the possible reader (hereafter Model Reader)
supposedly able to deal interpretatively with the
expressions in the same way as the author deals
generatively with them. (Eco, 1979, p.7)Our
emphasis.
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Unlimited Semiosis
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A Semiotic Model of MetaphorPierce, Lakoff
Johnson
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A Semiotic Model of a User-Interface Sign
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The Document Metaphor
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A Semiotic Model of User-Interface Metaphor
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The Parts of a User-Interface Metaphor

• Metaphor
• Metaphorical Entailments
• Designers Interpretant
• Representamen
• UI Metaphorical Entailments
• User's Interpretant

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Metaphor and Metaphorical Entailments

• The data is an object.
• The data can be written on.
• The data can be read.
• The data contains text, and possibly images and
  graphs, etc.
• The data can be ripped.
• The data can be typed up.
• The data is usually on white paper.
• The data can be photocopied.
• The data can be written in pencil or pen or ink.
• The data can (sometimes) be edited using twink or
  an eraser.
• The data contains information.
• The data can be set on fire.
• The data can be picked up and moved from place to
  place.
• The data can be thrown in a trashcan.
• The data can give you a paper-cut.

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UI Metaphorical Entailments

• The data is an object.
• The data can be written on.
• The data can be read.
• The data contains text, and possibly images and
  graphs, etc.
• The data can be typed up.
• The data is usually on white paper.
• The data contains information.
• The data can be picked up and moved from place to
  place.
• The data can be thrown in a trashcan.

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The Relations of the User-Interface Metaphor

• Definition
• Metaphor Interpretation
• Metaphor Match
• Realisation and Refinement
• Representation
• User Interpretation
• Metaphor Success

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Further Work

• Use of the semiotic model in usability
  testing(exploration heuristics)
• Application of the semiotic model to the design
  process(exploration icons)
• Detailed case study of metaphor some particular
  software(exploration MS Office Project
  Gallery)

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A Semiotic ModelofUser-Interface Metaphor

• Pippin Barr
• Robert Biddle, James Noble