Scott Hanselman is a Microsoft computer programmer , support - up comedian , and author . And now , he is a philosopher of computer iconography . The bane of his universe ? It ’s the Icons whose real world analogues no longer exist . Here are five of the worst offenders . For the rest of the list , be certain to visitScott ’s blog .
What happens when all the things we base our icons on do n’t survive anymore ? Do they just become , hem , iconic glyphs whose ancestry are shrouded in mystery ?
Floppy Disk – Save
Save ? Save where ? You screw , down there . Adding the Arrow to the 3.5″ floppy make me smile . Is it pointing to under my desk ? What ’s a floppy ? Why not a USB paint ? Maybe acloud icon ? That will be well-heeled sincethere is only One Cloud Icon in the public . ( Image recognition : Red Orbit )
Radio Buttons – Mutually Exclusive Choices
Why are they call Radio Buttons ? Because my car radio used to have release where only one could be compact at any time . I drop my 8 - lead . ( Image Credit : Gina Hogan Edwards )
Voicemail
I take over that the Voicemail icon is supposed to be reminiscent of reel to lurch tapes but it always search like a container of 110 Film . I mistrust my voicemail is no longer stored on spooled charismatic magnetic tape . No , you ’ve never see either of these before , young person . # getoffmylawn
Manila Folder
I hypothesise the kids usePee Cheesstill these days ? I practice folders because I utilize the 43 Folders organisational arrangement but I do n’t see any reason that we could n’t be storing our files in abstract squares rather than booklet in the sky . ( Image Credit : Intercultural lecture )
Televisions
Does your boob tube have “ rabbit ears ? ”
What other icon do we apply while the original inspiration fades into abstruseness ?
take down : If one of these picture is yours let me know and I ’ll link to your site . I found all these and have n’t been able-bodied to impute all of them .
For the rest of the list , tick here .
republish with permission from Scott Hanselman
Top effigy viaLowEndMac .
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