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From: eru@tnvsu1.tele.nokia.fi (Erkki Ruohtula)
Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng
Subject: Re: What to know & universal icons
Keywords: universal icons, arrows
Message-ID: <440@mjolner.tele.nokia.fi>
Date: 25 Aug 89 16:33:32 GMT
References: <19238@mimsy.UUCP> <1359@cbnewsd.ATT.COM>
Sender: news@mjolner.tele.nokia.fi
Reply-To: eru@tnvsu1.tele.nokia.fi (Erkki Ruohtula)
Organization: Nokia Telecommunications
Lines: 12

(discussion about whether a picture of an arrow is a truly
universal icon)

When one tries to push an arrow-shaped object through or into some thick
medium, it moves more easily in the pointed direction than in
the opposite direction. I think people learn this early, regardless
of the culture (the "thick medium" may be equally well be seal flesh,
a bale of hay, or styrox).


Erkki Ruohtula    ! Nokia Telecommunications
eru@tele.nokia.fi ! P.O. Box 33 SF-02601 Espoo, Finland