Metaphors for Computing

Jeffrey Cassady

• I. What is a Metaphor
  • A. A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison, as in "a sea of troubles" or "All the world's a stage" (Shakespeare). {dictionary.reference.com}
  • B. One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol: "Hollywood has always been an irresistible, prefabricated metaphor for the crass, the materialistic, the shallow, and the craven" (Neal Gabler).{dictionary.reference.com}
• II. Metaphors for Computing
  • A. Metaphors in computing follow after the second definition of a metaphor more than anything. Common metaphors are: Desktop, trashcan, file, and folder.
  • B. Most of what we know about interacting with computers is in fact actually metaphor(http://www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/~nrandall/syllabus794Xwinter1999.htm).
• III. Voice and Hand Writing Recognition
  • A. Voice recognition software was developed to allow for the computer interface to pick up the voice commands and actually allows for the user to work without using their hands.
  • B. Hand writing recognition software allows for the user to interface with a palm pilot, computer or cell phone by way of a small pen on a sensitive interface.
• IV. Wearable Computers
  • A. Wearable computers: computers that are able to be worn on the body and used with minimal use of an interface.
  • B. Why have a wearable computer:
    • 1. More versatility
    • 2. More mobility