Icons in Everyday Life

Icons are all around us, silently informing us, advising us, or warning us. Here are a few that I found around my house on items I use just about every day.

Home Icon (Roku remote)

It’s hard to find the first instance of an image of a home being used for navigation, but the earliest available information points to the Mosaic Netscape web browser (later Netscape Navigator), which was launched in 1993. The home icon is now used in many different places, from physical devices like this remote to websites and apps in the digital realm. Because it’s so ubiquitous, no label is needed. The decision to make this an outlined icon was perhaps due to its small size, and the ability to identify the shape by its interior negative space is easier than if the “door” were the only negative space.

Weight Icon (Kitchen scale)

Historically, objects called calibration weights were used for manually-operated scales to compare different units of weight. This icon is a simplified visual representation of one of these weights. The button cycles between different units of weight (ie grams, ounces, pounds). The maker of this scale chose to outline the icon, perhaps to match the style of the “I/O” power icon that is also outlined on the other side of the device.

Temperature Icon (Refrigerator panel)

Like the home button, this thermometer icon used to denote temperature is universal. It depicts a style of thermometer that dates back as far as the 17th century, and was typically made of glass and used a mercury interior to measure temperature. We of course use different methods now, but this icon can be found on everything from cars to appliances to digital applications. Because modern thermometers can vary in appearance greatly, this depiction is more effective, especially considering there is no risk of it being mistaken for anything else. With the detail in this icon, an outlined appearance feels appropriate.

Timer Icon (HEPA filter controls)

Clocks have been used to represent time since the Apple Lisa computer in 1983, which drew off the first Xerox machines to use a GUI. This timer icon found on a filtration fan in my house is another example of a universally recognized icon that needs no label. Depicting the hands of a clock, the icon doesn’t have any additional numbers or tick marks to indicate hours. This particular icon is solid instead of outlined, perhaps to match the other icons on the fan. I think it would have been equally successful in an outlined style.

Microphone Icon (Headphones)

This microphone icon is a fairly common representation of its modern counterpart, though I don’t know how much of a shelf life it will have. It’s based on an old style of microphone that was common (and necessary) before today’s almost invisible condenser that can be packed into the tiniest of spaces. The first appearance I can find of a microphone icon (in a digital application) is Windows 3.1 from 1992, when audio capturing capabilities were becoming more common in home computers. I have seen this mostly used as an outlined icon, but if the microphone portion were filled in it would still be recognizable.

Conclusion

In my brief observation of my environment, outlined icons seemed to be most common. I think there are ways to make solid icons effective and readable, but I suspect I will start with outlined icons in my own project. With a responsive site, icons I use will need to be scalable and readable at all sizes. When in doubt, testing between styles is a good idea. And lastly, I will seek icons that are universally recognized to reduce user confusion and aid in a great experience.

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