Research

What is a Speedometer?
A speedometer is the device in a vehicle that measures and displays the speed, this is essential for safety purposes on the roads and highways around the world. The speedometer on a car, truck or motorcycle tells the driver how fast the vehicle is moving at any given time by instantaneously measuring the speed on the ground. The device is now digital on many vehicles, and takes different incarnations as the motorcycle speedometer or bike speedometer.




What is a Pedometer?
A pedometer or stepometer is a device that calculates the distance you have walked or run. It senses your movements and counts your steps. Then, the pedometer converts your steps into distance by knowing the length of your stride. Using a pedometer is an effective way to motivate yourself into doing more walking. You can wear the device all day or you can just wear it for your daily walk.




What is a Decibel meter?
A decibel meter is a device which measures sound pressure to determine how intence sounds are, measuring in decibels. Decibels are a logarithmic scale based on the sensitivity of the human ear. Prolonged exposure to sounds over 85 decibels can lead to hearing loss, making the measurement of decibel levels important for people who work in noisy environments so that thy know when to protect their ears.




What is a Barometer? 
A barometer measures atmospheric pressure. The are in the atmosphere exerts a force called pressure that constantly changes due to moving weather systems. Therefore, in conjunction with other meteorological instruments, a barometer helps to predict clear or rainy weather.




What is a Thermometer?
A thermometer is a device that measures the temperature of the indoor or outdoor atmosphere. The most common type consists of a long tube that contains mercury or coloured alcahol at the base, also there are other kinds such a spring and digital thermometers. When the atmospheric temperature rises it causes the material inside the air thermometer to expand. Conversely, when the air gets colder, the material contracts and goes back down. 




What is an Anemometer?
An anemometer is a meteorological device that is used to measure wind velocity. Anemometers come in a variety of forms, but the simplest type is the cup anemometer The cup anemometer consists of a vertical pole with four horizontal arms attached to the top, Cups are attached to the ends of the four arms, and the wind causes the cups to rotate the arms around the central pole.




What is an Altimeter?
An altimeter is a altitude device used by mountaineers, skydivers, pilots, satellites and many other. The altimeters general purpose is to tell its human or machine user how elevated from sea level it is. It performs this function by measuring the local air pressure using a barometer, or by bouncing radar off a target.




What is non-verbal communication?
Non-verbal communication is a type of communication other than spoken or written that creates or represents a meaning. Where this is common is in facial expressions, body  movements and gestures, but can also be relevant through imagery. An example of this can be an image which means something without having any text in place, the word mail, how could this be represented in image form? most applications now have a envelope symbol for the mail word. When this was created it then meant people knew where to click to get their mail without even seeing the word mail.




What is an Ideogram? 

A pictogram or pictograph is a symbol representing a concept, object, activity, place or event by illustration. Pictography is a form of writing whereby ideas are transmitted through drawing. It is the basis of cuneiform and hieroglyphs. Early written symbols were based on pictograms (pictures which resemble what they signify) and ideograms (pictures which represent ideas). It is commonly believed that pictograms appeared before ideograms. They were used by various ancient cultures all over the world since around 9000 BC and began to develop into logographic writing systems around 5000 BC. Pictograms are still in use as the main medium of written communication in some non-literate cultures in Africa, The Americas, and Oceania, and are often used as simple symbols by most contemporary cultures.

An ideogram or ideograph is a graphical symbol that represents an idea, rather than a group of letters arranged according to the phonemes of a spoken language, as is done in alphabetic languages. Examples of ideograms include wayfinding signage, such as in airports and other environments where many people may not be familiar with the language of the place they are in, as well as Arabic numerals and mathematical notation, which are used worldwide regardless of how they are pronounced in different languages. The term "ideogram" is commonly used to describe logographic writing systems such as Egyptian hieroglyphs and Chinese characters. However, symbols in logographic systems generally represent words or morphemes rather than pure ideas.

http://www.citrinitas.com/history_of_viscom/ideograms.html

What is a Pictogram?
A pictogram is an image created by people for the purpose of quick and clear communication without language or words, in order to draw attention to something.


Abdullah Hubner The pictogram definition.


Going in-depth about the definition above give a clearer meaning in order to achieve the best possible outcome of a pictogram.


First statement: "Created by people"
A pictogram is not a natural phenomenon but is created artificially. Therefore it cannot be learned or instinctively understood by natural means, but depends on an agreement between the human sender and human receiver which must be learned or universally acknowledged.


Aim: If the widest possible understanding is to be achieved , a pictogram must be self explanatory as possible. In order to convey the message, a symbol must be found that is typical of the subject and can easily be associated with it through common experience.


Second statement: " an image for the purpose of quick clear communication"
A pictogram must be quickly and clearly recognised and understood.


Aim: Not only must the content of the pictogram be a characteristic symbol for the intended message, but the visual form too must be simple, typical and associative enough to permit quick and clear identification.


Third statement: "Communication without language or words"
A pictogram should be understood independently of writing , words, culture and language.


Aim: A transposition without writing or language, with easily associated symbols that are culturally neutral and as natural as possible or universally known from common history.


Fourth statement: " in order to draw attention to something"
A pictogram is not meant to offer a complex explanation, but it should point to one clear concrete fact, such facts may be, information, direction or prohibition.


Aim: A pictogram must always convey one fact. If there is more than one it cannot be interpreted quickly or clearly enough, if for example, a number of different activities are forbidden in a car park, the different bans should be visualised through separate pictograms. Each band should be represented brawn from the same system .

Here is an example of some pictograms which were designed for the olympic games. Each of these pictograms were build within a 45 degree grid which gives the equality within each pictogram. These pictograms work very well as a set and are easily identified in to what event they belong to, I found that in some cases the designer used blocks of white in order to differ the object from the black colour used because if black was used within both objects the pictogram would not be as effective. What I can take from these pictograms is how simple you can actually make them but they can still be understood by mostly anyone and how these pictograms work as a set is that they are all made within the 45 degree grid with the same stroke of line.

App Icon design

 Here is a screenshot of my display on my I phone. Here is a clear example of how pictograms are used within applications in order for the viewer to understand what they are without having to read any form of text. Simple pictograms that apple have made so that they are easily understandable are the messages, phone and mail symbols, although they have text underneath them 9/10 people wont read it but click the symbol because they understand what it is they are clicking, this is something I want to achieve with my pictograms. Another thing I have to consider when designing my apps is the small scale I will be working within a very small scale so I need to come up with ways to overcome this. Ways I may over come this can be the use of weight/stroke, colour, background colour and depth within the image.

Here are some more apps which Apple designed which can also be understood without the use of text. Their pictograms consist of an image which best describes what the app is for, for example; The weather app icon has an image of the sun with the degrees temperature underneath it, it is also on a blue background emphasising the sky. This was seen as best for the weather app as if someone was to look at the app the things shown on the app all relate to weather. When creating my own apps there are some questions I need to ask myself in order to get the best possible outcome (Connotations)

Do my images: 

Look like they are intended to?

How might others view them?

Are there possible mis-readings?

Are they clear?