We have to be careful not to think like developers here. We have a tendency to want to make the represented model match the implementation model. While usually this deals with tasks flows, it even comes into play with icons. History shows that it is best when the represented model matches the user's mental model of how things work. Users don't care about how things actually work behind the scenes, so our representations need not match what is really going on.
I know the floppy disk metaphor is old and dated, but it still works if you think about how most users see the "save" function. They may not care how it actually gets saved. Just that they can save it and restore it as needed. Of course it depends on the context of save within the application (i.e. - downloading to your local hard drive vs. saving in some hosted app). What intrigues me is how younger users (those whom have never seen or used a real floppy disk) relate to the icon. It's especially interesting the further away from that old archaic artifact that we get. It's meaning is detached from the tangible product and only exists as some iconic reference to a function. Sorry, I geeked out for a minute there. I like these type of "how to build a better mousetrap" conversations. Keith Aric Hall http://keitharichall.com/ http://twitter.com/keitharichall On May 12, 2010, at 4:23 PM, Louis Orenstein wrote: With the Filing Cabinet you could potentially have confusion with moving the document into a specific location / folder / sub-grouping right? What other icons convey the idea of saving the state of something? The picture I have in my head is a fuzzy cloud changing to a solidified cloud since when you're saving something you're really just saving a snapshot of the state. I've seen this one lately in Ubuntu though it doesn't really apply very well for web applications since it's using the hard disk: <screenshot1.png> On 05/12/2010 02:25 PM, Art Thompson, Jr. wrote: > > I used to hate that icon, but now, especially withing the context of a > handheld OS, it seems kinda "cute" and "retro." I'm kidding, of course. > > Art Thompson, Jr. > Logical Things, Inc. > 917-609-1158 [m] > 512-692-9865 [w] > www.LogicalThings.com > www.twitter.com/LogicalThings > www.linkedin.com/in/LogicalThings > > We design, build and deploy branded Microsites, Landing Pages, Blogs, Eblasts > and Whatever Comes Next. > > -- > > > > On Wed, May 12, 2010 at 1:24 PM, Ryan Joy <[email protected]> wrote: > I came across a tweet from @mezzoblue and it reminded me that we're still > using the wrong iconography to descibe 'Save'. > > A floppy disk icon on a phone. Yes, Microsoft went there. > http://www.winsupersite.com/images/mobile/wp7_rc1_13.jpg > > > - RYAN JOY > http://twitter.com/atxryan > > > On Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 4:09 PM, Keith Aric Hall <[email protected]> wrote: > Filing cabinet is definitely worth exploring too. The only issue I see with a > document with a check mark on it is many CMSs use this metaphor for "approve" > for publishing purposes. > > > On Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 3:54 PM, Michelle McGonagle > <[email protected]> wrote: > I like the filing cabinet idea. What about a document with a check mark on > it? Pretty simple and clean. > > > Michelle McGonagle > Partner, Director of Business > J Ortega Design Group > > [email protected] > office (512) 850-6490 | cell (512) 632-4588 > > 6001 W Parmer Ln | Suite 370-108, Austin, TX 78727 > www.JOrtegaGroup.com > > On Oct 28, 2009, at 3:45 PM, Frank Robinson wrote: > >> I think a vault or safe implies encryption or file-locking. What about a >> two-drawer filing cabinet? >> >> >> Frank Robinson >> >> Web Coordinator, Wildlife Division >> >> 512-389-8445 >> >> >> From: [email protected] >> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Keith Aric Hall >> Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 10:07 AM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: [Refresh Austin: 4581] Re: Random but fun Question: The Save Icon >> >> >> maybe a vault or safe? >> >> On Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 9:24 AM, Alex S. Jones <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> If it were up to you to change the old floppy disk as the "save" icon >> across all Web and desktop apps, what would you choose? >> >> Alex Jones >> www.SilverSpider.com >> www.twitter.com/BaldMan >> www.RefreshAustin.org >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Keith Aric Hall >> >> http://www.keitharichall.com/ >> twitter: keitharichall >> >> >> >> > > > > > > > -- > Keith Aric Hall > > http://www.keitharichall.com/ > twitter: keitharichall > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ > Our Web site: http://www.RefreshAustin.org/ > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Refresh Austin" group. > [ Posting ] > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > Job-related postings should follow http://tr.im/refreshaustinjobspolicy > We do not accept job posts from recruiters. > [ Unsubscribe ] > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected] > [ More Info ] > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/Refresh-Austin > -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- > > > -- > Our Web site: http://www.RefreshAustin.org/ > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Refresh Austin" group. > > [ Posting ] > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > Job-related postings should follow http://tr.im/refreshaustinjobspolicy > We do not accept job posts from recruiters. > > [ Unsubscribe ] > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected] > > [ More Info ] > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/Refresh-Austin > > -- > Our Web site: http://www.RefreshAustin.org/ > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Refresh Austin" group. > > [ Posting ] > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > Job-related postings should follow http://tr.im/refreshaustinjobspolicy > We do not accept job posts from recruiters. > > [ Unsubscribe ] > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected] > > [ More Info ] > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/Refresh-Austin -- Our Web site: http://www.RefreshAustin.org/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Refresh Austin" group. [ Posting ] To post to this group, send email to [email protected] Job-related postings should follow http://tr.im/refreshaustinjobspolicy We do not accept job posts from recruiters. [ Unsubscribe ] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] [ More Info ] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Refresh-Austin -- Our Web site: http://www.RefreshAustin.org/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Refresh Austin" group. [ Posting ] To post to this group, send email to [email protected] Job-related postings should follow http://tr.im/refreshaustinjobspolicy We do not accept job posts from recruiters. [ Unsubscribe ] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] [ More Info ] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Refresh-Austin
