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Published in:
2019 | OriginalPaper | Chapter
The Effects of Icon Characteristics on Search Time
Authors : Mick Smythwood, Mirsad Hadzikadic
Published in: Advances in Usability, User Experience and Assistive Technology
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
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Abstract
The use of icons is ubiquitous in today’s computing world. A handful of icon characteristics have been found to predict icon performance. Visual complexity, concreteness, familiarity, and aesthetic value have all been shown to affect performance in searching for and locating icons. We replicate previous studies that examined icon characteristics’ effects on search time but use our own up-to-date icon stimulus set taken from existing mobile application icons. Our results verify most previous findings. The results on icon attractiveness, however, contradict findings that the advantage provided by attractiveness is only present when the icon is already difficult to find. We find the opposite—that simple icons alone are afforded an advantage by also being attractive. These confounding findings provide insight into the fundamental differences between mobile icons and icons traditionally used in search experiments.