C H A P T E R 5

Icons

■Icons increase the size of a picker, not only in width but also in height. The larger a picker, the more it obscures what’s beneath it.

■If you have one icon in a picker, you have to make companions for the other picker items. It can be hard enough to state the name or function of each picker item in a word or two, let alone to design an intelligible tiny pictogram for each item.

Use judgment: long pickers may not benefit as much from icons as shorter ones. Then again, there’s nothing like a good shape to grab a user’s eye once the user has associated it with something the user is seeking in a long list.

If you decide to include icons in a picker, try to make them useful mnemonic devices. Use icons to clarify and distinguish the wording of picker items. Avoid purely decorative doodads. Figure 5-11 illustrates the use of icons

in a picker.

Figure 5-11Icons can help communicate picker item functions

Do not exceed 16 pixels high by 22 pixels wide; smaller is better

Icons in lists may represent individual items or they may label some attribute of each item, such as the type of item.

To be consistent with icons in existing pickers, a picker icon should not exceed 16 pixels in height or 22 in width. This does not mean you should go ahead and make all your icons 16 pixels high. Consider 16 pixels the maximum icon height in pickers, to be used only in it it’s difficult to create a recognizable image with fewer pixels. Only two of the icons in the built-in MessagePad applications are 16 pixels high: the Log and Put Away items in the In/Out Box.

Where possible, vary the sizes of icons in a picker. It’s not uniform size that makes icons unify a picker, give visual relief, and jog users’ memories. To do that, give all the icons in a picker the same visual weight and style, but unique shapes and configurations.

Icons in a Picker

5-13

Page 166 Page 168
Page 167
Image 167
Apple 2 manual 11Icons can help communicate picker item functions
Page 166 Page 168

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.
Top Page Image Contents