The use of metaphorical structures for internet sites
Information services, such as regional or tourist information services, are currently developed everywhere. Whenever a site gets very large, providers understand the need for a systematic development. Site development is similar to database co-design, which includes structures, functionality, and interfaces. Additionally, interfaces are even more important for sites and need a very sophisticated support whenever the site is raising to large sites. Metaphorical structures, i.e., metaphors, allegories, metonymies or synecdoches, can be used to help the scanning user understand a page. In general, metaphorical structures have a communicative or cognitive function. For example, many users do not realize that within a computer context a trash can often stand as a metaphor for the action of deleting files. The users can understand content, functionality, and intention intuitively via using such metaphorical structures. Site development can profit from well-integrated metaphorical structures aimed at focus on a deeper context explanation as well as on a more specific navigation and selection. Metaphorical structures for sites can be developed based on linguistic and cognitive research. Stand-alone metaphors have often been used for sites. The power of metaphorical structures can be best exploited if they are used for complex actions and in an integrated way together with structure, functionality, and interfaces. This paper shows how the co-design approach allows for the consistent development of metaphorical structures in an integrated manner.
metaphor cognition linguistics information systems database systems internet services interaction natural language