An universal user interface language is emerging

A globally understood symbol language for controlling devices and PC programs is emerging.

The success story of the global language was triggered by the global markets for household markets that took off after the Second World War. We learned  to use our household equipment with switches that had globally understood symbol markings and it continued later with PC programs visualizing control functions with common symbolism (visual vocabulary) that everybody became familiar with and cellular phones having a common keyboard symbolism. And the universal symbol language is continuing its triumph in the Internet world with an ever increasing speed.

We all know about a few hundred of "verb" type symbols (e.g. wind forward button, power switch, print button, enlarge symbol ...) and a few thousand of "substantive" like icons for applications and company logos. We have been giving up the letter writing in user experience creation - symbols represent words.

Same rules apply for creating good quality symbol expressions as for any other expressions:

• It is better to use simple and clear expression (familiar -symbols and -sequences)
• Readers like user interfaces where the fonts (style of symbols) and colors are adapted to the style code of the device and context
• Consistent use of one style code within one context domain makes it easier for users to understand which functions belong together 
• Using different styles should not jeopardize the readability; priority is given to understandability   

The universal symbol language is not owned by anyone - it's belongs to us all. Successful usage of the symbol language is identical with using standard language. It is about understanding the meaning of the symbols, taking the position of the reader and telling the story in such a way that the reader understands it as easily and clearly as possible. 

The language of symbols is evolving with a rapid speed. There are already maybe a million of proper names (company logos) and there are some thousand of commonly understood substantives and verb like concepts. It seems that those new icons, that are symbols for clear and easily defined concepts, become easily popular. We like clear concepts that we can comprehend and that have an identifiable symbol. Concept clarity is important both for general terminology and for proper names like company brand names. Image advertising succeeds much easier if the company brand name associates to a simple and distinct function that the company provides; something that is easy to tell with one simple statement.

The symbol language is not surpassing natural languages. We want to express things in our minds and clear thinking is often based on vocal discussion with ourselves. We need spoken language for expressing ourselves and also as a tool for contemplation; visual thinking does not adequately support creation of meaning and conceptualization. But the universal symbol language continues its triumph in those contexts where it brings the most value. Universally understood language of symbols belongs to our common cultural context independent in heritage that we have just recently created; it makes it possible for us to communicate universally over cultural boundaries.

Piksu editors 11.2.2007 / Kai Nyman
http://www.piksu.fi/science/science_englanniksi.htm