"Yet. Yet… the top UX myth of all time is, icons enhance usability"
It's a fact that it is easier and faster to comprehend images than words. I think the only situation this isn't true is when you are icons aren't clear. You can't use icons for obscure things or things that don't have an established universal recognition for exactly the reason this article describes. That's why everyone always recognizes a picture of an old school telephone versus a smart phone as an icon in front of something like a phone number.
I think the "Cardinal" UX mistake made here was that, not using an icon over text.
It's a fact that it is easier and faster to comprehend images than words. I think the only situation this isn't true is when you are icons aren't clear. You can't use icons for obscure things or things that don't have an established universal recognition for exactly the reason this article describes. That's why everyone always recognizes a picture of an old school telephone versus a smart phone as an icon in front of something like a phone number.
I think the "Cardinal" UX mistake made here was that, not using an icon over text.