The misinterpretation of colors, forms, symbols, metaphors, language and use are the most common cross-cultural design failures. As yet, only a few researchers and developers have investigated innovative ways of integrating deeper cultural aspects into the design of global information systems. This line of work can be roughly grouped into four, partly overlapping clusters. All four types of studies draw heavily on concepts from cultural studies and anthropology. It differentiates into subcultures.
Cultures can also overlap.
Culture is how we go about everyday life and how we use things. Technology and its use are part of the culture. One important factor to remember when considering the cultural biases that may affect the usability of digital libraries is that biases are, in fact, embedded in development tools themselves. Until recently, program development was a skill for few to master. It required detailed knowledge and sometimes years of experience to make a computer perform exactly the way it was intended.