Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
100
75
50
42.1%
31.6%
21.1%
25
5.3%
0
Left from
the Folder
Right from
the Folder
Above the
Folder
Below the
Folder
FIGURE 8.45 Preference of the folder attribute position in the Chinese sample.
Results summary.
The largest group (42%) chose to place the attribute right from the icon. Again, the
main reason is pragmatic: the placement at right would not interfere with the icon title.
Also, the respondents were used to seeing this placement. The below placement came
second (32%). Interestingly, here was also the reason of practicality. One respondent
was aware such a placement would follow the sequence of attention, where the folder
icon comes first. Above the folder placement came third (21%), mainly because it
would not interfere with other information and can better catch people's attention.
(See Figure 8.45.)
Czech
Results summary.
The largest group (36%) chose to place the attribute above the icon. Second came
right placement (23%), and third left placement (18%). The above placement would
expand the meaning of the icon, is compact, and follows the reading direction from
top to bottom. The right placement was chosen because it is telling something about
the icon and was regarded as practical. The left placement would categorize the
icons according to their type, and it would be best suitable for a list of items. (See
Figure 8.46.)
Discussion/conclusion.
The hypothesis was not supported by the results. However, the tested image may have
led the Chinese respondents to focus more on the pragmatics of icon design, rather
than on the sequence of elements. Therefore, to further verify the hypothesis we should
design and conduct more tests, using perhaps novel or more abstract objects for the
respondents, which would not trigger a familiarity bias. We should also investigate
further which cases would support the hypothesis. Interestingly, in the Czech sample
there were differences in the sequence of priorities, where the above placement was
chosen as first, while in the Chinese sample it was only third. Moreover, 14% of the
responses would like to see the attribute to be placed in the middle of the icon.
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