Buttons Redux: Tweakability
Comments: 25
Dave Winer wrote on Scripting News this morning about variations in the orange XML button:
Please don’t tweak the little white-on-orange XML icon. I’m seeing variations out there. That’s not cool. Its value is diluted by varying it. If you don’t like it, do something completely different. But a little change here and there, and eventually its value is gone.
I’m implicated in this, as is Jamie Zawinski with his CSS version of the button (which is – I have to say this somewhere, let it be here – a wonderful piece of lateral thinking). I certainly don’t presume to speak for Jamie, but I’d like to offer some insight into my thinking about the situation in the sincere hope of allaying any fears anyone may have about dilution.
I’m going to run on a bit here, so let me continue this on its own page:
The XML button is becoming a de facto convention. This will only solidify as RSS becomes ubiquitous. It’s good to have an easily recognisable pointer to a site’s feed. The button is not exactly to my taste, as you know, but this is a very subjective thing and I want to avoid the subjective as much as possible because there is no disputandum with de gustibus, as someone once said (there’s no accounting for taste).
There are some conventions that are absolutely non-tweakable. Traffic lights for example. A municipality, whatever their reasons, ought not to replace its traffic lights with, say, a magenta light for “Go” (looks nice against the sky!), a xenon strobe flashing at a rate that induces seizures for “Prepare to stop” (That’ll slow ‘em down!) and a Lava Lamp for “Stop” (because it’s nice to have something to look at while you wait for the lights to change) despite the fact that drivers could be educated as to the meaning of the new arrangement. This would be dilution indeed, to the point of fatality.
Traffic lights are a strong convention (made stronger by law, as many conventions are), they’re a global convention, but they are not a robust convention. By “robust” I mean a convention that admits variation while losing none of its meaning. Here’s an everyday example:
You probably own at least one appliance that uses this convention (you may well be sitting in front of it now). The button that conveys this convention may be brushed aluminium (like the laptop I want) or it may be translucent plastic (like the laptop I have). It may be round, it may be square, it may be silkscreened on or it may be burned into wood with an iron but whatever particular form it takes, its meaning is clear (once you’ve read the manual of the first appliance on which you encounter it).
The power switch symbol is just that: a symbol. There’s no inherent reason why a vertical line passing through the aperture of a semi-circle means “power switch” but we decide to agree that it does. As long as we retain that symbol (it has to be a semi-circle, it can’t be a semi-rectangle for example), we’ve got a lot of freedom with how the concept of “power switch” can be expressed.
The letters “X,” “M,” and “L” placed together in that order don’t form a symbol but an acronym (mix them around a bit and you get t-shirt sizes), so there’s an altogether lower level of abstraction at work. Less abstraction means less (but rarely no) freedom in how the meaning can be conveyed, freedom of tweakability let’s say. That’s why I didn’t change the colours in my version of the button. In the absence of a symbol these are clues to meaning. Likewise I didn’t change the shape, nor did I change the label on the button.
What I did (I believe, I hope) was to deliberately retain the essence of the original in a form that suited me. I was careful about this. I thought about it. The 300-odd bytes I saved were undoubtedly squandered elsewhere many times over, but the look of it at least suits a site called “Antipixel” (I know, I know: the joke’s not funny). Brushed aluminium, translucent plastic, it doesn’t matter because the keys to meaning have been preserved. If you put the three versions of the buttons side by side (the original, mine and Jamie Zawinski’s) I really don’t think you could come to the conclusion that they mean different things. Humans are too good at pattern matching for that.
It’s a robust convention. Certain parameters can’t be ignored, but we do have robustness within them. Instead of dilution we have strengthening.
Dilution is possible, of course, and the surest road to it would be to “do something completely different” and ignore the elements that make the button what it is. A button that’s round, green, and says “Feed” dilutes. Let a thousand flowers bloom, by all means, but let’s make sure they’re the same species (we can go to town with varieties and end up with a more pleasing rose garden). Jonathan’s and McIntoshes are both apples (to switch metaphors in mid stream) and can share space in the same pie, but Granny Smiths and blood oranges probably shouldn’t.
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Posted to Computers • 2002.10.25 (Fri) • 23:41
Comments
Posted by xiffix 2002.10.26, 00:25
In hindsight, appropriating the global acronym XML for this narrow use was a mistake. The button should say RSS. Hopefully, people will take Dave’s suggestion to do something completely different to heart and abandon the Userland attempt at a standard icon.
BTW, most of my computer monitors and CPU’s have an unbroken circle with a vertical stroke in the center. Only the newest monitor has the broken circle (finger pushing a button) icon.
Posted by tomas 2002.10.26, 01:56
As an advocate for thinking, I think that if certain individuals are confused by variations of the XML-button, just let them be confused as I’m sure that is one of their very least of problems. The same confused individuals probably have a very hard time turning on their computers at all, not to mention getting dressed.
Posted by Shawn 2002.10.26, 02:52
Amen (or affirmation of your choosing) to both previous comments. A) XML != RSS, B) if you’re confused, puhleas, and C) since when did Winer own the button?
If my site weren’t XHTML/CSS only, I’d use your buttons, Jeremy. :)
Posted by Wevah 2002.10.26, 05:56
Slightly OT, on the subject of the power buttons: It seems to me that the broken circle with the line through the aperture is for buttons that don’t change physical state when they turn on or off; i.e., the switch isn’t a purely mechanical device. Whereas the completed circle with the line in it is for buttons that (generally) are depressed when on, but stick out slightly when off.
Just a theory, though.
Posted by bopuc 2002.10.26, 07:51
yeeeaaah… I’ll say this: 1- if I were to bother placing some indication of the HTML, CSS, XML or RSS validity of any of my (or my clients’) documents, I’ll sure as heck make buttons that fit into the design of the screen they are own. 2- non-designers should not design icons or badges, espceically if they are to be as “conventions”.
There is not one “officially sanctioned” badge out there that I would EVER consider placing on ANY webpage, screen or other. EVER.
Your badges sir, BTW, are darn nice. :)
Cheers.
Posted by nick 2002.10.26, 09:09
i wasn’t using buttons to link to my feeds, but now i’m gonna use yours just because i think dave is a douchebag. plus they’ll match nicely with the ones i already stole from you (and the “508 approved” one i made using your design).
and, in using your buttons i’ll be doing…um…the opposite of diluting by actually using a button that’s reminiscent of the standard (which i wouldn’t put on my site cuz it’s ugly, like the w3c buttons). but i still don’t like dave.
Posted by Jeff 2002.10.26, 20:45
Listen, 90% of the readers of our RSS-fed blogs will not understand RSS or XML graphics.
Personally, I’d rather someone explain those cryptic washing instructions on the labels of my clothes!
Posted by todd 2002.10.27, 01:35
This is excellent. I grabbed your images the day they got posted, most people I have pointed in your direction have liked them as well. I never did like the Userland version, and Dave getting “tweaked” about the changes…geez.
Anyway, I think you are right. I think the graphics are a great riff on the original, and even if we have both out there, it doesn’t dilute, it adds to the greater whole. More people will use the images and as such more people will want to know what the xml / rss feed is.
Thanks for the images and the great post!
Posted by jh 2002.10.27, 12:21
Time to catch up on some comments…
First, I’m so glad that people seem to like the buttons, or at least having a choice, but I want it to be for the right reasons. Dave Winer is a guy who attracts some strong opinions, opinions that run in many directions, but I don’t think those opinions have a place in this discussion.
I’m seeing this as a design problem pure and simple.
Xiffix — Agreed. The use of “XML” may not have been the perfect choice. I tried to explain above though why I had to stick with it. If we were to go off and do something completely different, I’d try to come up with something more indicative of and specific to the concept of syndication.
You’re mention of the other power switch symbol is good, which led to…
Wevah — Damn! You got me running around the house looking for examples of this. I don’t happen to have any, but your theory is intriguing. I’m keeping my eyes peeled!
Bopuc — This is what I meant by “robust.” All of this is predicated on the idea of some sort of convention for the buttons, which I’m not even sure is necessary after all. I think this is what Dave was getting at when he talked about doing something completely different.
Jeff — Cut to that chase as usual, why don’t you. ;-) And no, sorry, I can’t help you with the labels (could explain why my wardrobe is in such disrepair).
Posted by Graham Hicks 2002.10.28, 10:10
The broken circle with the line is actually the international symbol for standby. The full circle with the line inside it is for power. It’s one of those things where almost everyone does it wrong, but they all do it wrong in the same way. There was a study at Berkley that shows how confused things are and proposed that the current standby symbol become the symbol for power.
As for the XML symbol: While it is reasonable for Dave to want his system to remain intact, it is unreasonable for him to expect that this will actually happen. When you give something to the public you have to expect that it will be twisted and misused. I actually think it’s much more interesting when I see something that has been tweaked and customized by the person using it. Also, the bright orange button is damn ugly. I know I’d never use it without changing it in some way.
Posted by Xian 2002.10.28, 15:56
As long as the XML/RSS button that you use is of the same shape and color no one looking for it will miss it. And I think the userland version is quite ugly. It is in use on my site due to laziness on my part.
And as far as the power button goes the circle with the line through it are based on the binary standards of Zero=Off and One=On. They were used seperately on either side of a power switch for many years. Even fewer people had any idea what they meant. Nor could they answer correctly if asked which side meant On.
Bringing this back on topic. If the power “standby” symbol was done in a different color. Or if the one that intersects the zero was drawn with a serif. I don’t think that anyone would be confused and think that a different meaning is implied. In the same way the letter ‘A’ is a universal symbol that keeps its meaning no matter how it is mangled. Thousands of fonts and my handwriting can attest to this.
Posted by victor 2002.10.28, 22:46
Certainly this has got me thinking. When I read Scripting News I thought: “this guy’s getting more and more jealous everyday”. I think the RSS vs RDF conflict has got his ideas somewhat diluted, which is sad because some of them are quite good.
When I have a moment I’ll change the badges, definitely yours harmonize better with the design.
speaking of buttons, I actually clicked the one at the bottom:
Sorry, this document does not validate as XHTML 1.0 Strict.
Posted by teradome 2002.10.29, 07:11
That’s funny, since the “Standby” circle and line looks like an abstracted logo of a toggle (or light) switch in the On position. No wonder it gets mixed up with “Power.”
Posted by jh 2002.10.29, 21:46
Graham — Thanks for that link to the Berkeley study. Fascinating. I’ve filed a copy of that away for future reference. The authors’ claims about how much money is being wasted in energy costs are just astonishing (not that I doubt them at all).
I did manage to find one example here of the true power switch symbol (vertical bar in the middle of a circle): it’s on my old 8100 PowerMac. Not sure when Apple changed to the standby symbol. Curiously, the Apple extended keyboard that I bought at about the same time (must be about 7 years ago now I guess) has a left facing triangle on its power button. How intuitive.
Posted by jh 2002.11.01, 11:06
This particular storm in a teacup got a mention on MetaFilter. Xiffix’s point (see first comment above) gets a wonderfully succinct restating from Anil Dash:
Having an “XML” button to announce your RSS feed is like having a big sign out front of a car dealership that says, “STEEL”.
I’m more and more of this opinion. Autodiscovery will render this whole thread obsolete in no time, I hope.
Posted by tamaracks 2003.03.22, 07:40
Just found this page, and I have no idea if you’re checking these comments, but I totally agree about the Mac power button that used to be on the keyboards. A triangle? Wtf?
Posted by jh 2003.03.22, 14:35
Tamaracks —- Yep, still checking. Graham Hicks posted a link to a study at Berkeley on power switch icons which you might be interested in (if you didn’t see it already).
Posted by ajw 2003.03.29, 22:22
Regarding the left-facing triangle on the Apple Extended Keyboard - that key is officially known as the restart key (not the power key).
Posted by Mike Goodspeed 2003.03.30, 17:13
If you have Windows XP, and you hit Start -> Turn off Computer, you’ll see the Standby and the Turn Off icons properly labled. I never noticed until I read this thread. I’m color oriented and I either just look at the words or the colors.
Also, I’m in the midst of my site’s redesign where I’m going no-pictures, but man, these pictures make it a really hard decision. I might just include yours!
By the way, your stuff really reminds me of Starving Artist’s stuff. I think it’s the pixel-ly font you use. I really dig it. :)
Posted by Jim 2003.04.09, 02:53
I was taught (in school, I think) that the broken circle with a line through it meant “power off”, because it wasa broken circuit (which can’t conduct electricity), as opposed to a closed circuit (which does).
Thinking about it now though, that sounds even worse than the binary 1 0 idea in terms of what it means to the average user.
Posted by Robin 2005.01.30, 19:34
I always figured [the symbol] to be the number “1” overimposed on a zero. You know, like binary, 0/1, true/false, on/off.
Posted by Wevah 2005.03.10, 13:45
I just dug this back up via Google-searching for myself. ;)
I’m bored, so here are a few examples:
The power button on my PowerBook uses the “standby” symbol, and it doesn’t change physical state.
The power button on an old Mac downstairs uses the unbroken “power” symbol, and it does change state.
My old Apple Design Powered Speakers also use the closed “power” symbol, and have a switch that has physical “in” and “out” states.
The front button on the PlayStation 2 also uses the “standby” button…but then again, it really does do standby (the power switch is on the back, and is nicely labelled with | and O for on and off).
(It’s really interesting to find stuff I wrote years ago.)
Posted by political badges 2006.01.03, 17:07
I don’t think anybody will object if you use the color or design that suits your taste. As long as it the icon is recognizable and they know what it’s used for. Enough for the confusions now.
Posted by Scott M. Stolz 2006.02.24, 08:39
Most of the devices I use seem to use the LBL standard or something other than the international standard. I had never seen (or noticed if I has seem) the international standard for on/off. The only place I found it was on Windows XP so far, and only after it being pointed out to me in this post.
To me, the LBL standard seems more intuitive, as research has pointed out. Most devices seems to have either 1/0 or the one (1) in a broken zero (0) (technically that is what is being displayed, it’s not a I/O, but rather a 1/0).
As far as the XML/RSS button debate. I think that people should be using RSS instead of XML for their buttons linking to RSS feeds. Why? Because just because its XML doesn’t mean its RSS, but if its RSS it has to be XML. In other words, RSS is a specific type of XML. Not all XML is RSS.
I’m sure if people start using XML for other things and it catches on like RSS, there will be mass confusion, similar to the international standard using the power on/off icon for standby, and creating a different icon of power.
Posted by Dafin 2006.06.08, 21:36
Wow, this blog is nearly 4 years old, sure interesting read though…
//carries on looking for power buttons in his flat..
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