Symbols
Symbol Languages
Symbols help to communicate ideas quickly and simply. This principle has been developed further into comprehensive symbol languages, providing much greater support than basic directional and safety icons.
Illustrating concepts
A symbol can simply illustrate a word, but it can do much more that that. It is a graphic representation of a concept.
Visualising meaning
Symbols can help readers visualise the meaning of words. This approach works with information at all levels of difficulty, for example, to show the difference between current and voltage.
How Symbols are Learned
Most symbols are designed to be obvious, so little learning is needed. For the more abstract ideas, the Widgit Literacy Symbols are created under a recognisable schema. This allows people to learn new symbols independently.
Different Symbol Languages
There are two main symbol sets used in the UK. The Widgit Literacy Symbols (WLS, previously known as Rebus) and the Picture Communication Symbols (PCS).
The WLS are designed to support literacy and written information such as documentation and signage. The PCS are designed for face-to-face communication, such as communication aids for people with no speech.
