Metaphor and the Cognitive Representation of Computing Systems

Abstract

In learning, people develop new cognitive structures by metaphorically extending old ones. The metaphors spontaneously generated by new users will predict the ease with which they can master a computer system. Systems which through their interface suggest inefficacious metaphors will accordingly be more difficult to learn and to that extent unacceptable. Copyright © 1982 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.