ICONS and User-Interface Communication

Abstract

Icon based interfaces offer a new dimension in human-machine communication. An overview of man’s attempts to communicate in the past, particularly through forms of writing, examines how and why certain methods developed and what purposes they served. Observations may be made of these communication symbols as to their intention and effectiveness; relating apparent insights to the purpose and process of the User-interface. Historic information on the development of iconic representations of familiar objects is given. Much can be synthesized and applied to the design of today’s icon-based user-interface. Advantages in using an iconic-based interface in software application packages are discussed; the nature of this interactivity being one which indicates a decrease in learning time and a potential increase in productivity.