A brief history of computer iconography
Since the seventies of the last century the most common computer icons have gone a long and thorny path. This article is an attempt to gather a collection of icons that illustrate the development of computer iconography. Although in the period from 1981 to 2010, there were many different operating systems with a graphical interface, I selected the most significant, most influenced modern icon design.
the
the Year is 1981. The Xerox Star 8010 is the first computer for ordinary consumers with a graphical user interface
In 1973 Xerox Alto has become the first computer ever with a graphical user interface (GUI). The design of the icons was used metaphor of "the office", incidentally, is also the first in the world. Alto was created for scientific research and therefore did not get the broad market. All were produced about two thousand of such machines and, later, the success of the Xerox Alto was the impetus and inspiration for the creation of the Apple Lisa computer (1983). In 1981 was released the Xerox Star, developing ideas Alto and incorporating all the innovations and discoveries of his ancestor. Icons Photocopier demonstrate the principle of human interaction with a computer interface using familiar things to him. Look at the icons of calculator, documents, folders, and baskets for the past almost thirty years has not changed.
1981 – Xerox Star 8010
the
the Year 1983. The Apple Lisa – the popularization of the graphical interface
Apple began to develop computer Lisa in 1978 under the strong influence of early computers from Xerox. Hoping to occupy a niche in the PC market, Apple has adopted the metaphor of "the office" to make communication beginners with a computer as light as possible. At that time Lisa had a very advanced graphic interface: it had a "Desktop accessories" (essentially widgets), drop-down menus and directories in a folder. As you can see, the icons are Lisa little different from icons of computers, Xerox, with the exception of size and a single-pixel stroke, and use of the computer icon for the settings panel (this is now for these purposes it is customary to use the gear).
1983 – Lisa Office System 1
the
the Year 1984. Apple Macintosh 1.0 icons created by the artist
A year after the release of the Lisa, came to light Apple Macintosh 1.0. Now you can copy files method drag'n'drop, move Windows, in addition there is a new awesome icons. This time the creation of the icons was in charge of the now legendary Susan Ker (Susan Kare). Susan has created a set of icons for Apple, including icons for interface MacPaint (Fig. 2). The philosophy of Care is simple – "I believe that good icons are much closer to the road signs than to the usual pictures, and, ideally, should be as simple as possible, concise and memorable. I'm trying to make icons clear and simple as possible despite the fact that there is much more graphics capabilities in the current computers." This philosophy became the basis for the commercial success of Apple in those years.
1984 – Macintosh System 1.0 (Fig. 1)
1984 – Macintosh System 1.0 (Fig. 2)
the
the Year 1985. Atari TOS – isometric icons
It is important to note that in those years not only Apple computers had a graphical interface. Atari ST was its own operating system, TOS, which had a minimalistic interface that uses the same metaphor of the desktop, who by that time computer standard. By the way, some of the icons TOS was drawn isometric.
1985 – Atari TOS Version 1.0
the
the Year 1985. Amiga Workbench — four color icons
Amiga Workbench environment was created for the personal computer Amiga 500. And, despite the rudely painted icons, were extremely progressive for the time. It is possible to change the appearance of the cursor icons have been a four-color, and possessed the ability to visually change the state. Amiga changed the philosophy of "desktop" and used in the environment of the working place with drawers instead of folders icons.
1985 – Amiga Workbench 1.0
the
the Year 1985. Windows 1.0 x is the first OS from Microsoft with a graphical interface
In 1985, Microsoft finally managed to release its graphical user interface. The icons looked the same roughly as the Amiga, plus they were black and white. Interestingly, but the first Windows icon Painter directly borrowing characters from MacPaint, in particular, catches the eye icon Spray Painter.
1985 – Windows 1.0 x
the
Year 1986. GEOS for Commodore 64 — an alternative OS
The list is to add GEOS for the Commodore 64, as at that time graphical interface was the second most popular after Macintosh 1.0 (by number of units sold). Icons were much more expressive than Microsoft, however, professed the philosophy Macintosh philosophy simple metaphors.
1986 – Commodore C64 GEOS
the
the Year 1991. Macintosh System 7 — the first color Mac OS
System 7 icons made friends with the color. In addition, they have grown slightly more "CTR".
1991 – System 7 Macintosh
the
Year 1992. Windows 3.1 — new designer icons!
In Windows 3.0 (1990) Microsoft used the icons we are already familiar with Susan Kare (the previously created icons for Macintosh 1.0). For Windows 3.1 Susan even more improved color and appearance of the icons. In addition, Windows 3.1 was the first Microsoft platform with pre-installed True Type fonts.
1990 – Windows 3
the
1995. Windows 95 — "start"button
Windows 95 allowed to make icons more colorful. In addition, some isometric objects. Interface design of Windows 95 was radically redesigned, it includes a part of the components that live in Windows to this day. This is the taskbar, menu and became the byword "start"button.
1995 – Windows 95
the
1997. Macintosh OS 8 — bright icons
In Mac OS 8 the icons look much brighter, with a clearly visible direction of the light source. Macintosh started to introduce ISO style with a shadow effect.
1997 – Macintosh OS 8
the
2001 Mac OS X v10.0 — "Mac-style"
Release Mac OS X was marked by the appearance of shiny, plastic-jelly icons that looked just perfect. Icons OS X began as a huge leap forward compared to icons OS 9, released two years earlier (its icons look almost the same as OS 8 icons). Probably because of the appearance of the dock all the icons have been drawn as if the light source is either directly in front of them or slightly above them. Created an integral part of the new graphic theme Aqua icons had complex reflections, highlights and textures. I'm sure that Aqua asked the tone, through which the current computer iconografica so varied and interesting.
2001 – Mac OS X v10.0
the
the Year 2001. Windows XP — bright calm icons
In 2001, the year Microsoft came out with a new operating system. Using a rich color palette, the icons, however, seem calm. There is one light source, and translucent drop shadow. Style continues to be used isometric.
2001 – Windows XP
the
the Year 2007. Mac OS X Leopard dock with reflection
Mac threw stripes, and begat dock in 3D style, reflecting the icons located on it. Use in the design of chrome, glass and reflections popular as ever. Icons themselves have not undergone any changes with the version of OS X.
2007 – Mac OS X Leopard
the
the Year 2009. Windows 7— calm with reflections
Icons Windows 7 is radically different from Windows XP icons and Vista icons inherit. The main difference is that icons of Windows 7 and Vista, look to the left, not the right, icons for Windows XP. Seven icons more calm and relaxing, although with a clear presence of the reflection effect.
Комментарии
Отправить комментарий