5 ms·

As I've gotten older I've become very anti-icon. Just use text!

tuxie_ 4y ago
While I agree, I assume that the reason behind it is that icons don't require translation which allows them to sell the equipment worldwide without modifications to the interface. Not saying it's a good reason, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's just economics behind.
Aaargh20318 4y ago
Text means that you need different versions for different international markets, which causes a lot of additional SKUs and associated logistics costs. And it's not just that, but words with the same meaning can have vastly different lengths depending on language, which may or may not fit in your original design. To name an example: If you have an fan-assisted oven, you can have a small round button labeled 'fan'. In Dutch, however, the word is 'ventilator', which would require much more space.
- KronisLV 4y ago
  > Text means that you need different versions for different international markets, which causes a lot of additional SKUs and associated logistics costs. If only we could all decide upon a "default" language to use globally, much like a lot of software out there is available only in English which seems to be good enough (almost all programming languages included) for most cases. Then again, I'm the kind of person who finds most localizations in my native language to be uncomfortable to use and attempts by the academia to force people to use translated IT terms pointless - that will only lead to more confusion. Of course, not everyone knows multiple languages so maybe that's not the best argument, since we should be accomodating to many people if possible. And then there's the fact that I might have to learn Mandarin eventually if such an initiative came to pass.
  - bqmjjx0kac 4y ago
    Honestly, text in another language is nearly as useful to me as inscrutable icons. Maybe even more useful as long as it's a romance or Germanic language.

While I agree, I assume that the reason behind it is that icons don't require translation which allows them to sell the equipment worldwide without modifications to the interface. Not saying it's a good reason, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's just economics behind.

Aaargh20318 4y ago

Text means that you need different versions for different international markets, which causes a lot of additional SKUs and associated logistics costs. And it's not just that, but words with the same meaning can have vastly different lengths depending on language, which may or may not fit in your original design. To name an example: If you have an fan-assisted oven, you can have a small round button labeled 'fan'. In Dutch, however, the word is 'ventilator', which would require much more space.

KronisLV 4y ago
> Text means that you need different versions for different international markets, which causes a lot of additional SKUs and associated logistics costs. If only we could all decide upon a "default" language to use globally, much like a lot of software out there is available only in English which seems to be good enough (almost all programming languages included) for most cases. Then again, I'm the kind of person who finds most localizations in my native language to be uncomfortable to use and attempts by the academia to force people to use translated IT terms pointless - that will only lead to more confusion. Of course, not everyone knows multiple languages so maybe that's not the best argument, since we should be accomodating to many people if possible. And then there's the fact that I might have to learn Mandarin eventually if such an initiative came to pass.
- bqmjjx0kac 4y ago
  Honestly, text in another language is nearly as useful to me as inscrutable icons. Maybe even more useful as long as it's a romance or Germanic language.