Mapping the Metaphor is a Windows-based application that examines
the connetion between the metaphorical use of the 'desktop metaphor'
in Operating System file organization, and the metaphorical layout
of the London Underground system. Both of these 'maps' use graphical
means to simplify complex systems and utilize the metaphor to do so.
In the case of the Desktop it is the 'office' metaphor; files, cabinets,
folders and so on - none of which have any correlation to the binary
makeup of data. The London underground famously uses a circuit diagram
to simplify the complex underground railway system. There is in actuality
almost no geographical correlation between the 'map'of the underground
and the routes.
Mapping the metaphor upsets these correlations and well understood
metaphorical visual devices and combines them. When a user runs the
application 'subway.exe' the desktop is replaced with a map of the
London underground. The application then maps the users' data to the
underground map. For example the circle line stations could be music
files (most recenlty used) or the Northern line stations become text
documents and so on.
This application examinesthe use of metaphors in aiding us towards
understanding our own complex systems. |