[haiku-development] Re: Key roles vs. key label in menus

On Fri, Apr 6, 2012 at 5:01 AM, Humdinger <humdingerb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi!
>
> I'm just throwing in a few more symbols that may work well together.
> All are present in the DejaVu font. You'll find their code by dropping
> a symbol onto CharacterMap.
>
> 1)              ᴪ   ‡   ⁜
>
> 2)              ◇  ○  ◻
>
> 3)              ⋔  ≋  ⚙
>
> 4)              ☸  ♆  ♺
>
> 5)              ☼  ☾ ☆

Maybe I should make this configurable via a preference pane just for
Humdinger…  I would like the icons to represent the key role as much
as is possible rather than just be nice looking. I like 2, and I liked
the chess pieces you posted earlier too. But, as far as those symbols
having the desired meaning, I don't think so. Now, you could argue
that the symbols I proposed don't have the intended meaning either,
but I tried my best. I am looking for a justification, historical or
factual why the symbols should be used. That is why I find the chess
pieces okay, I can see the connection between

I originally posted the Mac symbols since those symbols are used for
the meaning of the key roles on Mac OS X, that is shift, control,
option, command. Shift is obvious I think. Control didn't work because
it is confused with an actual carrot, but there are lots of
alternative carrot-like symbols that could be used as well. Right now
it doesn't appear in any menus anyway (at least that I can find). The
triangle is okay, a more carrot like but not carrot symbol would be
better. Carrots preceded control sequences in terminal, that is the
connection if you are wondering. The option key symbol means option
because it is a fork, to choose an option, a fork in the road so to
speak. The trident symbol could be used for option, it is along the
right lines. The diamond has a historical connotation with command on
some Sun keyboard. Okay, admittedly that is not a strong connection,
but it also has going for it that it is a pretty nice looking and
simple symbol. Very identifiable and distinct.

John Scipione

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