Sorry If I cannot directly answer your question, but I like to share an idea that can widen the context of the problem. I have always found that the use of spatial metaphors in organizing web content (especially early web content, a look at the early freenets, like the Cleveland freenet, provides a good feeling) may actually be linked to a deep-seated and long-running tradition in the Western thought: I am referring to the rhetorical theory of "loci" (places). "Memoria" (memory) was one of the five parts of classic rhetoric and classic readings such as Rhetorica ad Herennium, Cicero's De Oratore or later Quintilianus' systematic work all explicitly suggest spatial metaphor as a way to easily organize and memorize information. As Frances Yates' book The Art of Memory shows this tradition never died and has permeated many subsequent attempts to organize information in the history of ideas. I believe many early ideas in the definition of computer interfaces, such as the term "home", resonates this ancient tradition. Cheers, Mattia Miani Manager of Enterprise and Executive Education RMIT International University, Vietnam --- On Sun, 5/6/12, Radhika Gajjala <cyborgwati@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Radhika Gajjala <cyborgwati@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Air-L] History of 'Home' in internet browsers To: "Radhika Gajjala" <radhika@cyberdiva.org> Cc: "aoir list" <air-l@aoir.org> Date: Sunday, May 6, 2012, 9:13 AM Hi all,
Thanks to Sue for reminding us of how much we now take for granted!
How much do you think the idea of having a "home" (spatial metaphor - placing and locating dis-[em]-bodies ) is based on practices from earlier social networking environments such as MOOs and MUDs where we built our homes - and what offline practices (situated/particular group cultures) do they privilege
On Sun, May 6, 2012 at 11:50 AM, Marianne van den Boomen < M.V.T.vandenBoomen@uu.nl> wrote:
Hi Sue,
Intriquing question! I remember working with Mosaic and Cello back in 1994, and they both already had a home button (an online check for screenshots affirms this). As far as I can see Tim Berners-Lees first browser in 1991 did not have a home button (see http://info.cern.ch/** NextBrowser.html <http://info.cern.ch/NextBrowser.html>) neither did the 1993 version (see here http://info.cern.ch/**NextBrowser1.html<http://info.cern.ch/NextBrowser1.html>) Yet, the screenshot does show a page called My homepage (in the title bar called: Tim's home page). May be the home of the home button is just Tim's home page? ;-)
kind regards
Marianne van den Boomen
On 6-5-12 11:46, Sue Thomas wrote:
Hi
I wonder if anyone can help? I'm trying to track down when and why it was decided to use the term 'Home' and its accompanying icon in web browser design. Does anyone have any information on that?
We have got so used to it that it's almost invisible in our consciousness, but Home is not default in every part of the world. In the Middle East for example, that function is called the Main Page, not the Home Page. I'm thinking that 'home' is probably an American concept in this context.
I'd also like to collect more equivalencies from non-English speaking countries, so please do get in touch if your country's browser features something other than 'home'.
I'd be most grateful for your thoughts on the above. Please reply backchannel to sue.thomas@dmu.ac.uk
Many thanks
Sue
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met vriendelijke groeten,
Marianne van den Boomen
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-- Radhika Gajjala Director, American Culture Studies Professor of Communication Studies and Cultural Studies 101 East Hall Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH 43403
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