Welcome to the InfoSci Platform
Icon Metaphors for Global Cultures

Icon Metaphors for Global Cultures

Lulit Bezuayehu, Eric Stilan, S. Tejaswi Peesapati
Copyright: © 2014 |Pages: 20
ISBN13: 9781466646230|ISBN10: 1466646233|EISBN13: 9781466646247
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-4623-0.ch002
Cite Chapter Cite Chapter

MLA

Bezuayehu, Lulit, et al. "Icon Metaphors for Global Cultures." Emerging Research and Trends in Interactivity and the Human-Computer Interface, edited by Katherine Blashki and Pedro Isaias, IGI Global, 2014, pp. 34-53. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-4623-0.ch002

APA

Bezuayehu, L., Stilan, E., & Peesapati, S. T. (2014). Icon Metaphors for Global Cultures. In K. Blashki & P. Isaias (Eds.), Emerging Research and Trends in Interactivity and the Human-Computer Interface (pp. 34-53). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-4623-0.ch002

Chicago

Bezuayehu, Lulit, Eric Stilan, and S. Tejaswi Peesapati. "Icon Metaphors for Global Cultures." In Emerging Research and Trends in Interactivity and the Human-Computer Interface, edited by Katherine Blashki and Pedro Isaias, 34-53. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2014. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-4623-0.ch002

Export Reference

Mendeley
Favorite

Abstract

Developing icons has always been challenging, from the first appearance of icons on desktop computers to the current day mobile and tablet platforms. Many of the same challenges apply when designing icons for global enterprise software. Icons can easily be misinterpreted when the designer and user have differing cultural backgrounds. The purpose of this chapter is to demonstrate the various cultural implications of icon interpretations and misinterpretations by users in various regions around the world. The authors conducted several studies to understand the roles cultures play when icons are viewed and interpreted by users. By deploying global surveys and conducting focus groups with users from around the world, they collected data to help them understand some of the variations in understanding and interpretations of icons. The authors also looked into various cultures that might find certain icons culturally insensitive or even offensive. After extensive research, they found that some of their initial assumptions regarding taboos and cultural standards were skewed by antiquated research, and now, their more recent research data shows that there is a more accepting global view of iconic metaphors and graphical imagery.

Request Access

You do not own this content. Please login to recommend this title to your institution's librarian or purchase it from the IGI Global bookstore.