1. A Semiotic Model of User-Interface Metaphor
Pippin Barr
Robert Biddle, James Noble

2. User-Interface Metaphor
You can take advantage of people's knowledge of the world around them by using metaphors to convey concepts and features of your application. Use metaphors involving concrete, familiar ideas and make the metaphors plain, so that users have a set of expectations to apply to computer environments. (Apple Computer Inc., 1992)
Familiar metaphors provide a direct and intuitive interface to user tasks. By allowing users to transfer their knowledge and experience, metaphors make it easier to predict and learn the behaviors of software-based representations. (Microsoft Corporation, 1995)

3. The Peircean Triad

4. Eco’s Model Reader
To make his text communicative, the author has to assume that the ensemble of codes he relies upon is the same as that shared by his possible reader. The author has thus to foresee a model of the possible reader (hereafter Model Reader) supposedly able to deal interpretatively with the expressions in the same way as the author deals generatively with them. (Eco, 1979, p.7)[Our emphasis.]

5. Unlimited Semiosis

6. A Semiotic Model of Metaphor: Pierce, Lakoff & Johnson

7. A Semiotic Model of a User-Interface Sign

8. The Document Metaphor

9. A Semiotic Model of User-Interface Metaphor

10. The Parts of a User-Interface Metaphor
Metaphorical Entailments
Designer’s Interpretant
Representamen
UI Metaphorical Entailments
User's Interpretant

11. Metaphor and Metaphorical Entailments
The data is an object.
The data can be written on.
The data can be read.
The data contains text, and possibly images and graphs, etc.
The data can be ripped.
The data can be typed up.
The data is usually on white paper.
The data can be photocopied.
The data can be written in pencil or pen or ink.
The data can (sometimes) be edited using twink or an eraser.
The data contains information.
The data can be set on fire.
The data can be picked up and moved from place to place.
The data can be thrown in a trashcan.
The data can give you a paper-cut. …

12. UI Metaphorical Entailments
The data is an object.
The data can be written on.
The data can be read.
The data contains text, and possibly images and graphs, etc.
The data can be typed up.
The data is usually on white paper.
The data contains information.
The data can be picked up and moved from place to place.
The data can be thrown in a trashcan. …

13. The Relations of the User-Interface Metaphor
Definition
Metaphor Interpretation
Metaphor Match
Realisation and Refinement
Representation
User Interpretation
Metaphor Success

14. Further Work
Use of the semiotic model in usability testing (exploration: heuristics)
Application of the semiotic model to the design process (exploration: icons)
Detailed case study of metaphor some particular software (exploration: MS Office “Project Gallery”)

15. A Semiotic Model of User-Interface Metaphor
Pippin Barr
Robert Biddle, James Noble