Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Metaphors play a central role in human-computer interaction. Research on general metaphor interpretation has shown that different types of people interpret metaphors differently. The present experiment examined the effects of cognitive ability and computer experience on the interpretation of computer-related metaphors. Subjects completed five cognitive tests, filled out a questionnaire concerning their experience with computers, and interpreted computer metaphor terms. Identification of a term as a metaphor was related to their frequency of computer use and nonverbal cognitive ability. Concreteness of metaphor interpretations decreased with increased knowledge of programming. Abstractness of interpretations increased with frequency of computer use. The discussion focuses on metaphors in the design of user interfaces for novices and experienced users.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Aberasturi

S. M.

(1993). Metaphors, learning, and people with cognitive impairments. Unpublished Master's thesis (University of Idaho)

Bailey

(1993). Iterative methodology and designer training in human-computer interface design. Proceedings of INTERCHI'93: Conference on Human Factors in Computing, (pp. 198–205). New York: ACM

Black

(1962). Models and metaphors. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press

Carroll

J. M.

Mack

R. L.

Kellogg

W.A.

(1988). Interface metaphors and user interface design. In Helander

(Ed.) Handbook of human-computer interaction. (pp. 67–85). Amsterdam: Elsevier

Carroll

J.M.

Olson

J. R.

(1988). Mental models in human-computer interaction. In Helander

(Ed.) Handbook of human-computer interaction. (pp. 45–65). Amsterdam: Elsevier

Chi

M. T. H.

Feltovich

P. J.

Glaser

(1981). Categorization and representation of physics problems by experts and novices. Cognitive Science, 5, 121–152

Douglas

S.A.

Moran

T.P.

(1983). Learning text-editing semantics by analogy. Proceedings of CHI'83: Conference on Human Factors in Computing. (pp. 207–211). New York: ACM

Erickson

T. D.

(1990). Creativity and design: Introduction. In Laurel

(Ed.) The art of human-computer interface design. (pp. 1–4). Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley

Gentner

D. R.

(1977). Children's performance on a spatial analogies task. Child Development, 48, 1034–1039

10.

Gentner

D.R.

(1988). Metaphors as structure mapping: The relational shift. Child Development, 59, 47–59

11.

Gillan

D. J.

Bias

R.G.

(1994). The use and abuse of metaphors in human-computer interaction. In IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man And Cybernetics (pp. 1434–1439). New York: IEEE

12.

Gillan

D. J.

Breedin

S. D.

Cooke

N.J.

(1992). Network and multidimensional representations of the declarative knowledge of human-computer interface design experts. International Journal of Man-Machine Studies, 36, 587–615

13.

Kaplan

Goodglass

Wientraub

(1983). Boston Naming Test. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger

14.

Nelson

T. H.

(1990). The right way to think about software design. In Laurel

(Ed.) The art of human-computer interface design, (pp. 235–243). Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley

15.

Norman

K. L.

Chin

J. P.

(1989). The menu metaphor: Food for thought. Behaviour and Information Technology, 8, 125–134

16.

Ortony

(1979). Metaphor and thought. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

17.

Ortony

Reynolds

Arder

J. A.

(1978). Theoretical and empirical research. Psychological Bulletin, 85, 919–943

18.

Shipley

W. C.

(1983). Shipley Institute of Living Scale. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services

19.

Weschler

(1981). Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale - Revised. San Antonio: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich

20.

Weschler

(1987). Weschler Memory Scale - Revised Manual. San Antonio: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich

21.

Winner

Gardner

(1977). The comprehension of metaphors in brain-damaged patients. Brain, 100, 717–729

22.

Woodcock

R. W.

Johnson

M. B.

(1989). Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational Battery - Revised. Allen, TX: DLM Teaching Resources

Cognitive Ability and Computing Experience Influence Interpretation of Computer Metaphors

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References