The Language of Interface Design
Technical symbols serve as a shorthand for complex instructions. Instead of writing "Press the Command key," technical writers use the ⌘ symbol to save space and improve readability.
Origin of Famous Tech Symbols
- The Command Key (⌘): Also known as the "Saint John's Arms" or "Place of Interest" sign. It was chosen by Susan Kare for the original Macintosh to replace the Apple logo in menus, which Steve Jobs felt was being overused.
- The Power Symbol (⏻): A combination of the binary "1" (on) and "0" (off). The broken circle indicates a standby state, while a closed circle with a line inside (⏼) indicates a toggle power switch.
- Diameter (⌀): The technical diameter symbol is distinct and used primarily in drafting and blueprints.
Using Symbols in Documentation
When writing tutorials or technical guides, using Unicode characters like ⚙(Settings) or ⏎ (Enter) helps bridge language barriers, as these icons are universally recognized across different operating system localizations.