Graphic Communication Flowcharts Pictograms 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 Charts Terminal Is used at the beginning and the end of a flowchart. Process This is used to say what you are doing & what the process involves. Decision This is used where you need to make a decision. Input/output This is used when you add or remove something. Adjustment/Preparation This is used when you make an adjustment. On/Off Used to connect the flowchart over two pages. Activity Draw out a flow chart for making a hot drink. Include inputs, processes, output and feedback loops.

Symbols, Pictograms & Ideograms Symbols, Pictograms and Ideograms are simple and easy to understand with out the use of text. Symbols Symbols 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 & Ideograms Pictograms Pictograms 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. Ideograms Ideograms 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 Data When 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 Charts Bar charts are used to show comparisons between data, they show the relative size of each category of data in a visual way. Pie Charts Pie charts are used to show proportions within the data. The data needs to be converted into a percentage of the total to show segments of a circle that look like slices of a pie. Line Graphs Line Graphs are used to show changes in data. For example, if you visit someone in hospital you will see the changes in their temperature recorded in a line graph. You must make sure the ‘constant’ data, such as months, are displayed along the bottom, and the ‘variable’ data, such as sales figures are on the vertical axis. Pictographs Pictographs are similar to bar charts but they use symbols to represent the data. This makes it easier to understand because the symbols show what the data refers.

Presenting Data Task: Present the data shown below in a pictograph. Mode of transport Number of people Car5 Bike3 Walk4 Bus3 Combination2 Favourite Take AwayNumber of people Pizza2 Indian4 Fish & Chips6 Kebab1 Chinese8