Bridging the gap: attribute and spatial metaphors for tangible interface design

If tangible user interfaces (TUIs) are going to move out of research labs and into mainstream use they need to support tasks in abstract as well as spatial domains. Designers need guidelines for TUIs in these domains. Conceptual Metaphor Theory can be used to design the relations between physical objects and abstract representations. In this paper, we use physical attributes and spatial properties of objects as source domains for conceptual metaphors. We present an empirical study where twenty participants matched physical representations of image schemas to metaphorically paired adjectives. Based on our findings, we suggest twenty pairings that are easily identified, suggest groups of image schemas that can serve as source domains for a variety of metaphors, and provide guidelines for structuring physical-abstract mappings in abstract domains. These guidelines can help designers apply metaphor theory to design problems in abstract domains, resulting in effective interaction.