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Each month Dr. Eric Schaffer answers selected questions on usable interface design. Recent Questions
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Special Design Considerations

October 27, 2011 – submitted by Carol Aubin of Alpharetta, GA

Question: Realizing that there are International icons when traveling, etc., is there a standard for our International users of various software applications? If there is and I've missed it, please let me know the source. Thank you!

Eric's response: Nope. And it is not really the case that there are truly international signs either. If you work at it you MIGHT find some road that are pretty international (maybe a yellow triangle with a squiggly line for winding road?). But you would be amazed at the level of confusion that is possible, even for things that you would think are simple. For example we have had problems with the mailbox icon, because the typical American rural mailbox is not used in other places, including Europe.

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