Barbara E. Holder
Department of Cognitive Science
University of California, San Diego
Abstract
In this paper I explore Fauconnier's (1997) conceptual
blending as an evaluative technique for user interface design. Conceptual
blending theory offers a rich model that may account for meaning construction
and meaning elaboration in design. Blending has been used previously to
analyze jokes (Coulson, 1995), metaphor (Fauconnier & Turner, 1998),
and Hebrew verb morphology (Mandelblit, 1997). I apply blending theory
to unpack the conceptual structure of an everyday artifact, (the automated
teller machine), and discuss how that structure is reflected in the design
and use of the ATM. The ATM is described as a blend of computing and banking
domains with its own properties and conceptual extensions. In the analysis
I investigate how task-level representations and operations change within
the ATM blend and how these changes introduce temporal complexities into
the blend. The debit card and check card are examined as conceptual extensions
and an evolution of the ATM blend. I also address some conceptual changes
the blend introduces to traditional banking schemas and the changes in social
practices of banking. Finally I propose blending as a productive usability
evaluation technique.
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