Graphic Communication

FlowchartsPictograms

Presenting Data

Flow Charts

Don’t tidy your room!

Flow charts are used to explain a process that needs to be followed.

You simply follow the arrows to see what you have to do next. The chart is used to check that no stage is missed, or that the order is correct.

When a decision is made that will result in a yes or no answer, a loop is put into the system. This is called a Feedback Loop.

Depending on the answer, the flow may either continue straight or ‘loop’ back to a previous stage where some adjustments need to be made.

Flow ChartsTerminalIs used at the beginning and the end of a flowchart.

ProcessThis is used to say what you are doing & what theprocess involves.

DecisionThis is used where you need to make a decision.

Input/outputThis is used when you add or remove something.

Adjustment/PreparationThis is used when you make an adjustment.

On/OffUsed to connect the flowchart over two pages.

ActivityDraw out a flow chart for making a hot drink. Include inputs, processes, output and feedback loops.

Symbols, Pictograms & IdeogramsSymbols, Pictograms and Ideograms are simple and easy to understand with out the use of text.

SymbolsSymbols are used to communicate information. There are three different types of symbols.

1. Enactive/Active – These show something happening.

2. Iconic/Pictorial – These are often called pictograms.

3. Symbolic/Abstract – These represent a concept. For example the five Olympic rings represent the five inhabited continents of the world.

1 - Enactive/Active 2 – Iconic/Pictorial 3 - Symbolic/Abstract

Symbols, Pictograms & IdeogramsPictogramsPictograms are simple stylized pictures which relate a message to other people. They use block/contrasting colour and are wordless. This eliminates the need for people to read the language to understand the information.

They are commonly used in public places and packaging.

IdeogramsIdeograms are similar to Pictograms, but they are less stylized and can be complicated. People have used this communication since the Egyptians began to use hieroglyphics and cave dwellers began to paint on the cave walls.

Ideograms also use pictures without words to communicate the information.

Presenting DataWhen data is collected it needs to collated and analysed. Putting the numbers into a table can make it very difficult to read. In order to display the data in a more understandable way it is usually converted into a graphical form. Data can be presented in a variety of ways:

Bar ChartsBar charts are used to show comparisons between data, they show the relative size of each category of data in a visual way.

Pie ChartsPie charts are used to show proportions within the data. The dataneeds to be converted into a percentage of the total to showsegments of a circle that look like slices of a pie.

Line GraphsLine Graphs are used to show changes in data. For example, if you visitsomeone in hospital you will see the changes in their temperature recordedin a line graph. You must make sure the ‘constant’ data, such as months, aredisplayed along the bottom, and the ‘variable’ data, such as sales figuresare on the vertical axis.

PictographsPictographs are similar to bar charts but they use symbols to represent thedata. This makes it easier to understand because the symbols show whatthe data refers.

Presenting DataTask: Present the data shown below in a pictograph.

Mode of transport Number of people

Car 5Bike 3Walk 4Bus 3Combination 2

Favourite Take Away Number of people

Pizza 2Indian 4Fish & Chips 6Kebab 1Chinese 8