Signals

Signals are a perfect example of photovisual literacy, and they are clearly understood as a universal language for communication. Many situations, such as the need to communicate quietly, or if you need to communicate when it's too loud to speak, signals will help.

"Commercial fishermen and other mariners form the word "SOS" during an event held to spread the message of saving the oceans from acidification caused by fossil fuel emissions, in Homer, Alaska."




SOS

SOS Distress Signal - Click to Play





Aircraft Signals

Closed Caption

How to enable Closed Captioning on YouTube

Have you ever read a text message and weren't sure if the message was sarcastic. You are not the only one. As messages get shorter due to newly invented and uncommon acronyms, it is very difficult to completely understand the intent of a text message or even e-mails.

Signs - Do we all know what they mean

There are signs all around us, but do we all know what they mean. Statistics show that on average, drivers only comprehend 56% of traffic signals. The benefits of signs are immense. Signs can easily communicate to all people defying language barriers, but are signs being over used and making them difficult for people to remember what they mean. Signs can also be misinterpreted if they are not common enough. Some times, it may just be more efficient to right it out.

Disaddvantages of Visual Literacy

Perfect usage of visual literacy is usually very helpful and clear for the readers ;but signs or pictures can cause inconvenience even confusion if they are not used properly. When people are giving a speech, it is better to use less visual literacy as possible. Too many visual signs may attract the audience's attention away from the speech. Also, when the pictures or signs are not accepted as one common understanding, they need more attention when using them. Different people may interpret the same picture differently.

What is visual literacy?

"Visual literacy is the ability to interpret ,negotiate and make meaning from information presented in the form of image."
http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=136979

Visual literacy should not be long or complicated, as people could get confused. Considering the effectiveness, visual literacy is used for kids learning languages in education.

Texting - A new standard in writing

Has texting negatively affected that standard of writing? As more and more people use texting as a form of communication, the texting language has become more and more accepted. Texting has created a new form of writing, using acronyms to spell out words, phrases and even full sentences to make typing easier and faster, for example LOL meaning Laugh out loud or CUL8R meaing see you later. Some teachers have commented that there has become a increase of casualness in writing. Some students have started using these acronyms is reports and papers. Whether texting has negatively affected the standard of writing is of personal opinion, but one thing that most people can agree on is the fact that texting has deffinately changed the standard.

Texting While Driving

Through an advance in cell phone technology, texting has become one of the more popular forms of communication today. In Canada where cell phone rates are among some of the world's worst, it's definitely a practical solution to running out your daytime minutes. The world's increasingly busier, and the convenience of keeping in touch with friends and family has many still using this alternative while on the road. Unfortunately this is the cause of many fatalities every year, and some even consider it more distracting than impaired driving.

Symbols have become a universal language

I don't know when people start to look for this sign in stead of looking for "Restroom". By using the sign instead of spelling Washrooms, it's clear and easy to understand as different countries use different languages.

You can find washrooms in all countries without knowing their languages.