> which you save it with a different name, and extension. So why use  
> words
> whose meaning refers to space (import is moving to here, export is  
> moving to
> there) - to mean translation?


Aren't all metaphors inherently "broken"? :-) In the sense that no  
metaphor is 100% verisimilitude, but a language device to achieve a  
necessary, yet sufficient level of understanding  to basically grok a  
concept, make it just *meaningful* enough to act on it given a certain  
context and situation. (and overcome difficulties in interpretation,  
as a sense-making device). I can't move real office windows around, i  
normally don't duplicate physical files and folders with a finger  
stroke, and animal mice don't have buttons. But i know through learned  
behavior, observation and cultural convention the computer  
"equivalents" work in specific ways (and evolve over time, like  
"spring loaded" folders and "wheel mice") and mean certain things.

And, who knows what the inventors of import/export were thinking (I  
doubt East India Tea and tariffs)... Probably just wanted a quick one  
word for "bring data in" and "send data out" to use as  a short  
command, twisted it to be about directionality, and it stuck for  
better or worse. Now it's simply accepted cultural convention in the  
computer world.  Just deal with it :-)



Uday Gajendar
Sr. Interaction Designer
Voice Technology Group
Cisco | San Jose
------------------------------
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
+1 408 902 2137


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