Comment 8 for bug 1294256

> Even if "The shape of an SIM card is universal and recognizable", which I doubt, that is less likely in an indicator icon.
> The two things which distinguish a SIM card from just a rectangle are (a) the microchip, which would be covered or
> muddled by the X, and (b) the bevel, which would be miniscule at that scale. Having said that, Matthieu is experimenting
> with different SIM icons, which our usability researchers will test.

OK. Good.

> First, a rectangle with a cross in it, *next to* the normal signal icon, was tested as a possible way of communicating "No signal".
> Zero out of twelve participants recognized it. This is not quite what you are suggesting, and I don't have data on whether they
> guessed it was anything else, but I would be surprised if any of them guessed it had anything to do with the SIM.

"No Signal" has nothing to do with the SIM. Could you please test an icon I've proposed: Cell tower strenght icon with an X on top of it. It would also be consistent with out no-connection wifi icon which is wifi strength icon with an X.

> Second, a padlock emblem in the corner of the signal icon was tested as a possible way of communicating "SIM locked".
> I don't have exact figures, but the research summary says "The lock made the indicator icon unintelligible".
> This was probably because the padlock was so tiny, but still covered too much of the signal icon to leave it recognizable.

Then make the padlock bigger, or replace the padlock with a large key :)
Isn't fact that the signal strength icon might become unrecognizable less o if a problem as the real primary element should be the padlock or the key. As with any of the indicator-network status icons the sole point of the icons is to draw the attention of the user that *something is up*, which can be done by just having anything out of the ordinary showing as an icon. When we have gotten the attention of the user it's then the indicator-menu that will give the more verbose diagnostics to the user even though the icon itself would not be clear to everyone.

> Shruti Kapur and I are working on the multi-SIM case right now.

I would love to have a chat with you both. :)

> But remember that someone might buy (or be given)
> a dual-SIM phone, but use it long-term with only a single SIM. In that case, it would be annoying for them to see either
> text *or* an icon meaning "No SIM".

Yes, see my original proposal. I indeed proposed that we would show nothing in the panel if the SIM is missing. We could show the text "SIM Missing" inside the indicator-menu, though. Or only have visible it in cellular settings.

Also, please consider using the blue notify color on the most important status icons: sim locked, no signal.
Or some other color like red, if your overall design allows to use other colors than blue in the icons.