Assorted interfaces - Playroom, America Online, Leonard daVinci

Issues of culture include differences between

cultures within cultures; for example, children's cultures

individual cultures in coexistence (ethnic groups, religious cultures)

cultures separated politically and geographically.

While it can be easy to identify interface elements with the potential to offend, it may not be as easy to identify those elements that will be confusing or simply not understood. Designers have usually incorporated such elements into an interface with confidence because "everyone will understand that ."

Not all elements are ones to be avoided ... the designer may choose to include elements because they will be attractive to members of a certain culture.

There is no such thing as a "culture-less" interface (one designed in the absence of cultural bias), or a "pan-cultural" interface (one designed to work equally well with audiences of all cultures). A designer's product may be created for a homgeneous audience, and that designer will not have as many constraints to juggle as he might otherwise, but a product intended for a diverse audience must be adjusted or adjustable if it is to succeed.

last update 18 Feb 1995 eboling@indiana.edu