The Role of Pictograms in Online Communication

Nikolina Begović

Katarina Blažević

Ivana Jakić

Pictograms

Communication in an universal language by using universal

images that allow easier managing in online space

According to English encyclopedia, pictogram is a symbol or a

picture that represents an object or a concept; for example, a

picture of an envelope used to represent an e-mail message

Pictograms must be clear and understandable, represent

warnings, prohibitions, rules and allow users to quickly access the

informations

1

Pictograms vs. Icon

What is the diference?

Pictogram Represents an object or a concept

Icon Meaning in a graphical user interface

Are there too many packages of icons?

2

Research

Sample has been selected by browsing and viewing

various websites with different pictogram packages

3

Other packages;

2653

Microsoft

package; 625

Google package;

404

Packages are compared by seven

different categories

4

Comparison of packages

For second part of research there have been chosen

seven recognizable pictograms from every package for

comparison, so we could determine their differences and

similarities

Pictograms that we have chosen for further comparison

are: home, facebook, wifi, download, lock, search and e-

mail

Icons were chosen by criterion of representation in online environment, i.e. their popularity

Similarities and differences: colour, common form, design,

resolution 5

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Pictures are remembered better than words

They can be used in numerous situations where verbal message is not possible or appropriate

Each symbol should have a fixed meaning, otherwise there is

a risk that too many interpretations are given, and sometimes

the wrong interpretation

Their effectiveness should be measured by ability of people to

understand them

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Conclusion

Pictograms have become part of everyday communication, it

is imposible to imagine the world without them

Global usage their meaning tries to adjust so it can

communicate the same information in countries around the

world

They enable faster information flow the time needed for

recieveing information out of online environment has been

decreased

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Icon packages need to satisfy needs of users More

and more people use pictograms in order to

interchange informations

Assumed hypothesis of this paper has been proved correct It would be quite enough if there were several

packages with different purpose, i.e. for different

operating systems

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