[Tango-artists] Help for younger/international users?

[John C Barstow]

I've been watching the Tango project since it was announced, 
periodically checking the icon gallery. I'm very impressed with what 
I've seen, but I have a few quibbles about some of the items, that might 
reflect the fact that I'm neither American or that terribly old. Of 
course it might just be that I'm out of touch. :)

To start with, my daughter has *NEVER* seen a 3.5 floppy. I haven't seen 
one or owned a computer that has a floppy drive for about a decade (used 
to build my own machines most of the time). Is it really appropriate as 
the document-save icon?

The input-gaming icon vaguely resembles a joystick (maybe it's based on 
an arcade machine?). I doubt my daughter will ever recognise it as a 
game controller. I would expect to see a gamepad or a more realistic 
depiction, given how most of the other icons resemble real hardware.

I expected emblem-photos to be somehow connected to cameras or images; 
image-x-generic for example looks like a framed photo to me and a good 
candidate if it wasn't already in use.  Instead we get a pill bottle 
with a label being applied?  Am I missing something?

The input-mouse icon looks eerily like a Microsoft brand mouse. Maybe we 
could choose a more generic model for the icon? Or at least a model from 
a less hostile manufacturer?

I don't get the connection between shirts and desktop themes 
(preferences-desktop-theme) or the connection between paint and 
wallpaper (preferences-desktop-wallpaper). Surely in the latter case the 
concepts are diametrically opposed?

I was also wondering if the red-and-white life ring was internationally 
recognised - I personally would have thought a question mark more intuitive.

It's not my intention to disparage anyone's work; and I know many of 
these are adapted from existing icon schemes. I love the guidelines and 
I think most of the icons are spot-on and attractive.

Thanks for reading this far and I hope my feedback is of use.

John C Barstow