The dilemma is that as thing become more abstract, making a "self explanatory" icon requires prior knowledge of other abstract concepts from the user. For exam

The dilemma is that as thing become more abstract, making a "self explanatory" icon requires prior knowledge of other abstract concepts from the user. For example the cloud "obviously" means something on the internet, something like online storage, and you can derive a lot of "self explanatory" icons from there. But what about those who don't understand it? Funnily enough, I once saw a cloud icon on a piece of software, I thing it was mapping software, I instantly though about something about the internet. It took me a bit of time to realize it was for the weather, I mean, actual clouds.