Distinguishable interfaces
Encyclopedia
Distinguishable interfaces use computer graphic principles to automatically
generate easily distinguishable appearance for computer data.
Although the desktop metaphor revolutionized user interfaces, there is evidence
that a spatial layout alone does little to help in locating files and other data;
distinguishable appearance is also required.
Studies have shown that average users have considerable difficulty finding files
on their personal computers, even ones that they created the same day
.
Search engines do not always help, since it has been found that users
often know of the existence of a file without being able to specify relevant search terms.
On the contrary, people appear to incrementally search for files using some form of context
.
Recently researchers and web developers have argued that the problem is the
lack of distinguishable appearance: in the traditional computer interface most objects
and locations appear identical. This problem rarely occurs in the real world, where
both objects and locations generally have easily distinguishable appearance.
Discriminability was one of the recommendations in the
ISO 9241-12 recommendation on presentation of information on visual displays
(part of the overall report on Ergonomics of Human System Interaction
),
however it was assumed in that report that this would be achieved by manual
design of graphical symbols.
that make better use of the brain's "visual hardware", by providing
individual files and other abstract data with distinguishable appearance.
This idea initially appeared in strictly academic
VisualIDs
and Semanticons
works, but the web community has explored and rapidly adopted similar ideas
such as the Identicon
.
The VisualIDs project
automatically generated icons for files or other data based
on a hash of the data identifier, so the icons had no relation to the content or meaning of the data.
It was argued that generating icons based on content is difficult, and not entirely necessary—their user study showed rapid learning of the arbitrary icons.
The Semanticons project
developed by Setlur et al. demonstrated an algorithm to create icons that reflect the content of files.
In this work the name, location and content of a file are parsed and used to retrieve
related image(s) from an image database. These are then processed using a Non-photorealistic rendering
technique in order to generate graphical icons.
Developer Don Park introduced the identicon
library for making a visual icon from a hash
of a data identifier. This initial public implementation has spawned a large number
of implementations for various environments. In particular, identicons are
now being used as default visual user identifiers (avatars) for several widely used systems. They are also used as a complement to Gravatar
s, which are pre-existing avatar images created or chosen by users, instead of automatically generated images.
(see #External links).
recent research has followed the semantics-based approach of Semanticons.
Examples include using data mining principles to automatically create "intelligent icons"
that reflect the contents of files
and creating icons for music files that reflect audio characteristics
or affective content
.
generate easily distinguishable appearance for computer data.
Although the desktop metaphor revolutionized user interfaces, there is evidence
that a spatial layout alone does little to help in locating files and other data;
distinguishable appearance is also required.
Studies have shown that average users have considerable difficulty finding files
on their personal computers, even ones that they created the same day
.
Search engines do not always help, since it has been found that users
often know of the existence of a file without being able to specify relevant search terms.
On the contrary, people appear to incrementally search for files using some form of context
.
Recently researchers and web developers have argued that the problem is the
lack of distinguishable appearance: in the traditional computer interface most objects
and locations appear identical. This problem rarely occurs in the real world, where
both objects and locations generally have easily distinguishable appearance.
Discriminability was one of the recommendations in the
ISO 9241-12 recommendation on presentation of information on visual displays
(part of the overall report on Ergonomics of Human System Interaction
ISO 9241
ISO 9241 is a multi-part standard from the International Organization for Standardization covering ergonomics of human-computer interaction. It is managed by the ISO...
),
however it was assumed in that report that this would be achieved by manual
design of graphical symbols.
VisualIDs, Semanticons, and Identicons
The mass availability of computer graphics supported the introduction of approachesthat make better use of the brain's "visual hardware", by providing
individual files and other abstract data with distinguishable appearance.
This idea initially appeared in strictly academic
VisualIDs
and Semanticons
works, but the web community has explored and rapidly adopted similar ideas
such as the Identicon
Identicon
An Identicon is a visual representation of a hash value, usually of the IP address, serving to identify a user of a computer system; compare avatars. The original Identicon is a 9-block graphic, which has been extended to other graphic forms by third parties, some of whom have used MD5 instead of...
.
The VisualIDs project
automatically generated icons for files or other data based
on a hash of the data identifier, so the icons had no relation to the content or meaning of the data.
It was argued that generating icons based on content is difficult, and not entirely necessary—their user study showed rapid learning of the arbitrary icons.
The Semanticons project
developed by Setlur et al. demonstrated an algorithm to create icons that reflect the content of files.
In this work the name, location and content of a file are parsed and used to retrieve
related image(s) from an image database. These are then processed using a Non-photorealistic rendering
Non-photorealistic rendering
Non-Photorealistic rendering is an area of computer graphics that focuses on enabling a wide variety of expressive styles for digital art. In contrast to traditional computer graphics, which has focused on photorealism, NPR is inspired by artistic styles such as painting, drawing, technical...
technique in order to generate graphical icons.
Developer Don Park introduced the identicon
Identicon
An Identicon is a visual representation of a hash value, usually of the IP address, serving to identify a user of a computer system; compare avatars. The original Identicon is a 9-block graphic, which has been extended to other graphic forms by third parties, some of whom have used MD5 instead of...
library for making a visual icon from a hash
of a data identifier. This initial public implementation has spawned a large number
of implementations for various environments. In particular, identicons are
now being used as default visual user identifiers (avatars) for several widely used systems. They are also used as a complement to Gravatar
Gravatar
Gravatar is a service for providing globally unique avatars which was created by Tom Preston-Werner.- Designs :...
s, which are pre-existing avatar images created or chosen by users, instead of automatically generated images.
(see #External links).
Current Research
While current web practice has followed the semantics-free approach of VisualIDs,recent research has followed the semantics-based approach of Semanticons.
Examples include using data mining principles to automatically create "intelligent icons"
that reflect the contents of files
and creating icons for music files that reflect audio characteristics
or affective content
.
External links
- Technology Research News: Automatic icons organize files
- VisualIDs for Nautilus Reference implementation of VisualIDs for the Linux Nautilus file browser, by J. Rosen
- Identicons for .NET by J. Atwood and J. Galloway
- PHP Identicons
- WP_Identicon Identicon php plugin for Wordpress
- gravitar.com Gravitar.com's default image has an identicon option