Research into initial ideas and initial ideas based on research, overall theme of initial everything basically . .

From my first bit of research the idea of language is clear. I will continue to research that further in relation to my essay topic of Twitter.

Twitter is a social media platform that allows users to share real time information on anything they deem interesting. Twitter can use both formal and informal language. One of Twitters fundamental elements is its use of slang and hashtags.

#

Hashtags are commonly used to group things. By adding a hashtag to a tweet you categorise it into a relevant group. An example of this is a news event; When Mandela died people would use the hashtag #Mandela.

This way categorising tweets into simple easy to determine groups enables the reader to navigate with ease to the information they are seeking.

Various ways of categorising information...

Looking into current user interfaces that use a system that divides information. A clear example of this is the way websites are laid out using tool bars. Tool bars are typically placed at the top of a page or to the left hand side.

The periodic table is another example of dividing up information into to sections. This is then done and then further divided visually by the use of colour. The periodic table communicates to user using symbols rather than words.

This way of working reminds me of pictograms; an ideogram that represents meaning through the representation of something.

Apple's iTunes uses a visual marker alongside words to show the user the information they are looking for. Previous versions of iTunes had lists of information this way most simply broken down to artist, album and song. This way of displaying information was hard to understand for the user because the amount you were exposed to was mind-boggling. However,the new version like the above pictures, allows you to take the visual stimulus, the album cover, and associate it with artists and songs from that album, making the old verison of iTunes look dull and confusing.

Looking at the above information the idea of visual stimulus's in relation to pictograms is clear. I will now further explore pictograms and various examples from the past and present.

The above pictograms are from Windows 8. When a user (namely me) turns on there Windows 8 PC they are confronted with a rolling screen of pictograms for various commands and programs. An example of this is above. The first icon on the left top row is commonly associated with email. Windows 8 have also used program logos as pictograms, this makes sense as users have a relationship with a brand through a brands identity and a logo is most frequently one of the main parts of a brand identity.

The images on the right are a collection of pictograms that were used in the London 2012 Olympics, each representing a sport played in the games.

Pictograms are also used in everyday life . . .

The weather has pictograms that are iconic and can be seen cross platform, in print and digital media. They are universally recognised for there simple form and structure.

Various hazard warnings are displayed on cleaning products and can be found at work, depending on the workplace. They each represent a type of hazard - toxic, irritant etc. They are used to protect and identify the user. This is done through both the image and colour.

Linking back to Twitter and the fact its a social media platform, within social media there comes a new type of pictogram called an emotion or 'emoji'.

'Emojis' or 'Emoticons' are icons used in text that represent a certain action, mood, emotion, object or person. They are commonly used in SMS messages and social media platforms including - Instagram, Whatsapp and Twitter. It has been known that a combination of 'Emojis' can create a sentence, for example, from the list above on the left . . .

The link on the left is a Emoji tale database and creator. On the left hand side of the page you there are two options to read or create an emoji. The create an emoji allows you to name an emoji tale and use a bank of emojis to create it.

This whole idea of using symbols or images to represent another meaning reminds me of Egyptian Hieroglyphics. Before any of the above came about the Egyptians years ago used Hieroglyphics to write on tombs and the pyramids.

Based on my research I've decided to keep the idea of pictograms and how they can order and inform in relation to language. Still keeping the idea of Twitter and its ability to share information, in particular, news. I propose to create an app that orders information with pictograms at the heart of it in terms of showing the user information that they deem relevant. I will the also look into the idea of location because with Twitter you can never be sure of what you're reading is relevant to you, for example, If someone says there's been a robbery at the bank on the Highstreet (all hypothetically speaking) how do you know what Highstreet it was on or if it was even in this country.

So for stage 2 I will now look into ideas for an app that enables the user to share news/information that's relevant to the area or location they are in.