Magic by metaphors

Abstract

Most researech on metaphors and computers focus on the augmentative power of the similarity between the computer application and something already familiar to the user. But metaphor may play two fundamentally different roles depending on whether the primary role of the metaphor is to express something by building on the similarity between the two referents or whether the primary role is to express something new by emphasizing the dissimilarities. On the one hand, when designing computer system we strive for system with a resemblance with the previous environment but, on the other hand, we would also like to benefit from the power of the technology and provide opportunities not available in the current environment.