Reflections on the design of interface metaphors

This paper introduces a model of metaphor at the human-computer interface that is grounded in the psycho-linguistic literature. It demonstrates the utility of this model in a number of case studies of the design and evaluation of systems that use metaphor as a strategy in interface design. In doing so it draws on experiences of the design of such systems in order to propose practical set of steps that can be undertaken using this model as a `Tool for Thinking’ about metaphor.