Cross-cultural usability of the library metaphor

  • Authors:

  • Elke Duncker

  • Affiliations:

  • Middlesex University, London, UK

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the 2nd ACM/IEEE-CS joint conference on Digital libraries
  • Year:
  • 2002

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Abstract

Computing metaphors have become an integral part of information systems design, yet they are deeply rooted in cultural practices. This paper presents an investigation of the cross-cultural use and usability of such metaphors by studying the library metaphor of digital libraries in the cultural context of the Maori, the indigenous population of New Zealand. The ethnographic study examines relevant features of the Maori culture, their form of knowledge transfer and their use of physical and digital libraries. On this basis, the paper points out why and when the library metaphor fails Maori and other indigenous users, and indicates how this knowledge can contribute to the improvement of future designs.