Re: [Air-L] Metaphors in Technology
Gordon, If you're interested in work exploring metaphors of older technologies (and can stand a little self-promotion), I wrote an essay years ago that might be of interest: “The Cultural Power of an Anti-Television Metaphor: Questioning the ‘Plug-in Drug’ and a TV- Free America,” Television and New Media, 1: 2, May 2000, 215-238. (Downloadable at my website below). That essay was greatly inspired by Janice Radway's excellent piece, "Reading is not Eating: Mass- Produced Literature and the Theoretical, Methodological, and Political Consequences of a Metaphor," Book Research Quarterly, #2, 1986, 7-29. Both might be useful as models to update for your study of online metaphors. Good luck, -Jason On Jun 8, 2008, at 6:15 PM, air-l-request@listserv.aoir.org wrote:
Hi All,
I am working on a project dealing with the use of metaphor in communication about technology, as well as communication within software. I am trying to compile a list of metaphors used on the web and in computer software. For example, the "shopping cart" in online shopping, PowerPoint using "slides", "dialog" boxes in operating systems, "bulletin boards", etc.
Have any of you come across or perhaps even thought of other metaphors employed in software, online or off, or in communication about technology? I would like to make a giant list of examples.
Also, any recommended readings would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any help!
-Gordon Carlson -University of Illinois at Chicago -PhD Student of New Media Communication and RA in Electronic Visualization Lab
-- Jason Mittell, Associate Professor of American Studies and Film & Media Culture Chair of Film & Media Culture Department Middlebury College 208 Axinn Center at Starr Library Middlebury, Vermont 05753 (802) 443-3435 / fax: (802) 443-5123 Homepage: http://seguecommunity.middlebury.edu/sites/jmittell Blog: http://justtv.wordpress.com
I haven't read the thread, but I am sure someone has already pointed you to Donald Norman. If not, here's a classic: Norman, D. A. (1992). Turn signals are the facial expressions of automobiles. Reading, MA, Addison-Wesley. Norman, D. A. (1999). The invisible computer: Why good products can fail, the personal computer is so complex, and information appliances are the solution. New York, Basic Books. A basic reference of his: Norman, D. (1988). The psychology of everyday things. New York, Basic Books. Anything by bonnie Nardi is great, not a superficial "list" but still very valid material here: Nardi, B. and V. L. O'Day (1999). Information Ecologies: Using technology with heart. Cambridge, MA, MIT Press. Nardi, B. and C. Zarmer (1993). "Beyond models and metaphors: Visual formalisms in user interface design." Journal of Visual Languages and Computing(March). Many many metaphors for computer activities (esp. hacking, etc.) can be found in Levy's classic: Levy, S. (1984). Hackers: Heroes of the computer revolution. New York, Dell. You ahve already been pointed to E. Raymond's dictionaries I am sure. Cheers, Denise Denise N. Rall, PhD. Internationalisation Project Officer Southern Cross University, Lismore NSW 2480 AUSTRALIA Office: Room T2.17, +61 (0)2 6620 3577 Mobile 0438 233 344 http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/esm/staff/pages/drall/ Presenter, Internet Research 9.0, 15-18 October 2008, Copenhagen, DK Get the name you always wanted with the new y7mail email address. www.yahoo7.com.au/mail
participants (2)
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Denise N. Rall -
Jason Mittell