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singley.org > blog archives > This singley.org Post Is Red Hot! 11.21.2003
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I don't talk much about topics related to my line of work, but this user interface nugget seemed worth mentioning. There seems to be some confusion over the informational cues one can infer from the mini red chili pepper icon. At my former company, it was used to indicate "hot news!" I've also seen spam software that uses it to mean that an email may contain pictures of naked people. Or how about this one: I was doing some pepper icon research and came across this story from the daily news of my alma matter. It's about a web site where students can rate their professors in a number of categories, one being "hotness." And you can guess what wee graphic they use to indicate that your cultural anthropology prof is a "hottie."
So, I propose a set of tiny, but more specific set of animated icons to take the place of the pepper:
1. New information - A little man wearing one of those old-school reporter's hats, bobbling a flaming newspaper to indicate that it's "hot off the presses." He could even make little yipping noises as the paper burns his fingers.
2. Explicit content - Scene: a mini-teenager's bedroom. Korn poster on the walls, Sony Playstation in the corner, clothes everywhere, etc. A wee mom walks in the front door, lifts up the mattress and finds a tiny copy of Jugs magazine. She turns, faces the user and gasps, appalled at the lewdness.
3. Spiciness - Scene: a chili cook off. A judge walks in front of a panel of contestants and their steaming hot pots of chili. Our seasoned judge looks dissatisfied, unimpressed, clearly hoping for someone to distinguish themselves and give his banal life some purpose. Then, he gets to the final contestant. It's a gruff looking man with wild red hair and madness in his eyes. Green smoke rises from his pot as he adds a few drops of brown goo from a dirty bottle. The judge dips his over-sized spoon into the vat of chili, lifts spoon to mouth, and tastes. Immediately, his face turns bright red, he hops up and down, and fire shoots out of his ears as he shouts triumphantly, "WINNER!"
4. Red pepper-like - A small, red pepper.
5. Attractiveness - A mini picture of you, you hot little number.
Comments:
!mui caliente!
posted by JRDN on 11.30.2003