C H A P T E R 5

Icons

Think About Multicultural Compatibility

Your icons should be designed with multicultural use in mind. For example, to localize an icon for outgoing communications, you might consider using the design of a mailbox. But if you did, you would have to design a different icon for every country in which your product shipped. Instead, try to design one icon that is understood universally, or at least in many countries. An example of an icon that is understood around the world is the Out Box icon. Even though people in different locations around the world deposit mail in differently shaped boxes, they all still recognize the Out Box icon as a representation of outgoing communications.

In general, icons shouldn’t be gratuitously cute. Humor typically doesn’t translate well to other cultures or languages. Also, don’t use inside jokes or pictures that represent code names. Although it might work to use such icons during your development process for product identification, be sure to remove them and replace them with appropriate icons before you ship your product. Symbols and colloquial language are usually culturally dependent, meaning that what one person relates to may have no meaning or may be an insult in another person’s culture.

Extras Drawer Icons

For users to be able to open an application, it must have an icon in the Extras Drawer. The application name appears beneath the icon in one or two short lines of text. In addition, an application that stores data has a storage icon in the Storage folder of the Extras Drawer.

Extras Drawer Icons Together

As you design an icon for an application, look at it in the Extras Drawer next to other icons. Looking at your icon in the context of other icons may help you determine its visual impact. Is the design too light or too heavy? Is the

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Extras Drawer Icons

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Apple 2 manual Think About Multicultural Compatibility, Extras Drawer Icons Together
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2 specifications

The Apple II is a defining product in the history of personal computing, first introduced in 1977 by Apple Computer, Inc. Designed by Steve Wozniak, the Apple II was one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products and played a significant role in bringing personal computers into homes and schools.

One of the Apple II's standout features was its color graphics capability. It was one of the first personal computers to provide color output, thanks to its built-in video interface. The initial model supported a resolution of 280x192 pixels with a palette of 6 colors, which allowed for vibrant visuals that set it apart from contemporaries like the monochrome Altair 8800.

The Apple II was notable for its open architecture. This design allowed users to expand the computer's capabilities easily through a series of expansion slots. Users could add floppy disk drives, additional memory, and various peripheral devices, making the system highly adaptable to individual needs. This encouraged a thriving ecosystem of third-party hardware and software, which contributed to its popularity.

Another significant feature was its use of the 6502 microprocessor. This 8-bit CPU was not only affordable but also powerful for its time, allowing the Apple II to run various applications efficiently. Along with a built-in keyboard and an innovative plastic case that housed its components, the design was user-friendly and appealing.

The Apple II also introduced the concept of “bootable software” through the use of floppy disks. The disk operating system (DOS) allowed users to store and run multiple programs without having to reload software manually, providing a level of convenience that had not been widely available before. Key software like VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet program, helped boost sales, showcasing the Apple II's utility in business and education environments.

The computer was also well-known for its early adoption of BASIC programming language. Apple provided an operating system that supported Applesoft BASIC, which enabled users, including students, to write their programs, further fostering a community of developers.

In summary, the Apple II's color graphics, open architecture, powerful 6502 processor, innovative use of floppy disks, and support for BASIC programming made it a revolutionary product in its time. Its legacy laid the groundwork for future personal computers and established Apple as a leader in the burgeoning tech industry. The Apple II remains an iconic symbol of the early personal computing era, reflecting a generation's transition into a digitally connected world.
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