# What computer icon most needs reworking? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 20, 2022, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260 "2022-07-20T12:39:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/61 "2022-07-21T19:51:24Z")
> [@El\_Famous\_Burrito](#): > > But how about icons that should be reworked because they’re just plain _confusing_? Thank you, thank you! My pet peeve in this area is when I see a clickable rectangle with some text in it, and the text changes when I click it. I can never tell whether this rectangle is: - informational, telling me the current status, and it will change if I click it, or - it is a button telling me what the status will change TO Contrast that with Microsoft’s very intuitive buttons for formatting text in bold or italic: The label on the button never changes, but it is very clear when the button is pushed in (signifying “on”), and when it is not pushed in. I miss certain features from Windows 3.1. The buttons had borders, and if you clicked on something, you could watch the button being depressed, so you know you did something. Nowadays, if I click a button and nothing happens, there’s no way to know whether I clicked it incorrectly, or the system is just slow, or some other thing. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/62 "2022-07-21T22:34:20Z")
I used to work in a environment that was “adjacent” to some [Semiotics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiotics) profs. Uh, it’s really weird stuff. I’d like to think these people would be able to properly sort out best icon practice and all that. But the ones I saw … nope. No way. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Famous\_Burrito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_famous_burrito/32/3954_2.png) [@El\_Famous\_Burrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Famous_Burrito)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/63 "2022-07-22T02:05:53Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > I can never tell whether this rectangle is: > > - informational, telling me the current status, and it will change if I click it, or > - it is a button telling me what the status will change TO Ah, yes. Definitely a pet peeve of mine, too. The chief culprits for me as of late are **mute/unmute** toggling functions on web meeting platforms. At one point, I was routinely using two platforms with contrasting approaches. One showed the mute icon if you were currently muted (_status_). The other showed what would happen if you were to click it (_action_). ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/64 "2022-07-22T06:48:39Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > I think that one wins the prize. I’ve never even seen one IRL. But have you seen a calligraphy video? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/65 "2022-07-22T08:54:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It looks to me like the first one increases the number of digits shown, and the second one decreases the number of digits shown. Is that not the case? I think the confusion comes down to this: is the mental model that you grab the “knife” at the end of the number, such that sliding it _left_ decreases the number of digits; or do you grab the number and slide it under the knife, such that sliding it _right_ decreases the number of digits? These icons aren’t too bad if you also keep in mind that they read from the top down (like most things, excepting street markings), so that if the bottom line has more digits, that corresponds to an increase. But the arrow is fairly confusing. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2022, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/66 "2022-07-24T21:49:34Z")
I’m not sure what “knife” you’re referring to. The first icon says “go from .0 to .00”, while the second icon says “go from .00 to .0”. How could that possibly be clearer? ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2022, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/67 "2022-07-24T22:50:16Z")
I used to struggle with those two Excel icons too. I kept taking the arrows as the “direction” the last place digit would go (e.g., the arrow pointing left indicates it’ll go from the thousandths place to the hundredths place… so fewer digits). Having gotten fed up with frequently getting this wrong, I finally scrutinized the icons a little more closely and their meaning became apparent to me. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2022, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/68 "2022-07-24T23:04:36Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m not sure what “knife” you’re referring to. The knife cuts off the unwanted digits at the end. To cut off more digits, do you move the knife left, or the number right? The digits only help if you specifically read them as the top line being the current state and the bottom line being the state that you want to move toward. That’s not completely obvious, especially since the colored arrow isn’t even on the same line in both cases. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/69 "2022-07-25T11:11:49Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > But have you seen a calligraphy video? A what? LOL ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/70 "2022-07-25T11:38:26Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > The digits only help if you specifically read them as the top line being the current state and the bottom line being the state that you want to move toward. Well, yes, because we read from top to bottom. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/71 "2022-07-25T11:58:48Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It looks to me like the first one increases the number of digits shown, and the second one decreases the number of digits shown. Is that not the case? I know which buttons you people are referring to, and I certainly see how those pictures can be confusing. But if you would just let your mouse sit on the button for a few milliseconds, these descriptions will appear: “Show more decimal places for a more precise value” / “Show fewer decimal places”. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/72 "2022-07-25T12:53:44Z")
But we also read arrows, and the arrows seem to be indicating the decimals go in the other direction. I use Excel every working day. Mostly, i just know where on the bar the “reduce decimals” icon is. (I use it much more than “increase decimals”.) But even so, i often mess up when i look at the icons. ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/73 "2022-07-25T12:59:44Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > And then there is the issue of why we even have to call computer things by paper/real life examples. Such as “files” or “folders”? I the whole concept of files and folders will become less entrenched as time goes on. Mobile operating systems do a good job of hiding filesystems from the user, to the extent that if you only used a smartphone or tablet you wouldn’t really think in those terms. ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/74 "2022-07-25T13:03:30Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > It is kinda funny how durable the old rotary phone handset image is to signify a phone call. Yep. It’s an amusing irony that my iPhone uses a stylised image of its distant ancestor to represent “phone”. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/75 "2022-07-25T14:08:37Z")
Weird thing is, I’m actually somewhat interested in calligraphy — has a set when I was a teenager — but I’ve never had a calligraphy video show up in my FB or YouTube or any other feeds. That may just be targeted towards you. The closest I’ve seen to that is a guy who does ambigram videos, and he uses a flat tipped marker, not a fountain pen with a calligraphy nib. I haven’t been in the market for one, but I’d guess you can still buy fountain pens at, I dunno, maybe Michael’s and Blikk? In the early 2000s I remember just buying them at some regular drug store or Target. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/76 "2022-07-25T15:35:28Z")
That is strange then. I’ve never looked up calligraphy on my computer but I’ll get a video in my feed once or twice a year. Maybe something to do with my friend’s interests? But yeah, AFAIK, all the chain arts and crafts stores will have calligraphy supplies near the painting section. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/77 "2022-07-25T16:21:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m not sure what “knife” you’re referring to. The first icon says “go from .0 to .00”, while the second icon says “go from .00 to .0”. How could that possibly be clearer? Even reading your post and looking at the icons it’s still a “You’ve got to be kidding me.” deal. Nope. Those are horribly designed icons. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/78 "2022-07-25T16:28:20Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Nope. Those are horribly designed icons. Agreed, but if anyone above had a better suggestion for them, then I missed it. Nor do _ **I** _ have any suggestions what they should look like. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/79 "2022-07-25T16:57:25Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Weird thing is, I’m actually somewhat interested in calligraphy — has a set when I was a teenager — but I’ve never had a calligraphy video show up in my FB or YouTube or any other feeds. Ditto. > [@Projammer](#): > > Maybe something to do with my friend’s interests? Or yours. Have you watched any of those videos? Maybe you got one randomly, and now the algorithm thinks you are interested. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-icon-most-needs-reworking/968260/80 "2022-07-25T17:10:59Z")
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