" In the 80s and 90s successful interface design and an appropriate metaphor were taken to be nearly synonymous. Although a good metaphor is important, it imposes unnecessary and artificial restrictions. So why is it so important? The best, perhaps only, reason is familiarity. Unfortunately, familiarity comes at a cost: the shorter learning curve can require speed and ability to be sacrificed."--"Where Computer Interfaces Are Going," Tristan Gimmer [available here] (warning... medioce article)
i understand that he's using a MUCH tighter definition of metaphor than i do, but i think metaphor is the only tool people have to explore complex virtual environments. Software interfaces refer metaphorically to: the structure of real-world objects (file "trees" branch outward), to real-world objects ("folders," "menus," "files"), and to previous software. I'd argue that that's all there is.
and i was going to write a manifesto about this, but it's 4:00 am. and tired just hit. some other time.
