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ifm System Manual ecomatmobile BasicDisplay (CR0451) V01
Visualisations in the device Recommendations for user interfaces
Illustrations
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An image is not always a sensible substitute for a text.
The representation of more complex processes can become impossible. How is, for example, the
request "press the button until you feel a slight resistance" to be illustrated?
Even if an illustration is a good representation of a fact, its use has to be well considered at
international level. Replacing text by images is only sensible and reduces cost if the illustrations are
independent of culture, i.e. can be used in ALL intended target countries without adaptations. Many
things which are self-evident for us are not self-evident in other cultures.
The illustration of people can lead to problems: What sex must or may a person have? What skin
colour? What age? Eventually, the addressees in all target countries are to feel equally addressed.
Clothing which does not stand out in Western Europe can lead to irritations in Arabic or African
countries. Gestures and individual body parts, especially hands and eyes, should not be represented
because they often trigger an offensive or insulting association.
Reading direction
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In most cultures reading is done from left to right and from top to bottom.
Some Asian cultures, however, read from bottom to top and from back to front.
Many Arabic cultures read from right to left.
These particularities have to be taken into account for graphical instructions!
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