With today’s hectic schedules, most of us just don’t have the time to deal with steep learning curves that can be associated with everything from technical concepts to artistic designs. However, there is an innate human ability that can assist us, when it comes to perceiving complex information. This simplifies knowledge transmission that would normally require a number of long hours to cram into our thought processes. I’m referring to the ability of our biological visual system to register patterns which are presented to us in the form of visual “trends”. Because of this, we have been able to develop a system known as “infographics”.
How do infographics work?
Infographics can also be referred to as “information architecture”. In other words, it provides the ability to construct graphs, maps and other ways to disseminate data in such a way as to make it easier for others to comprehend. Examples of this can be found throughout history, going all the way back to prehistoric times. These primitive individuals created cave paintings that depicted hunting methods and directions to various necessary resources. In modern times, sophisticated infographics are popular when it comes to their use on social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). This has a lot to do with the availability of free and user-friendly software tools relating to infographics. One example is the variety of tools available that have been boosted with CSS3 and HTML5 becoming alternatives to Adobe Flash.
Why are infographics so popular?
When it comes to commerce, today’s business strategies revolve around the Internet. The same holds true for anyone who desires to be recognized online. This means that ways to increase website traffic are things that command a huge amount of interest from website owners and online posters. As such, since infographics can effectively increase web traffic and provide powerful link building tools, the interest in them is continually growing. Additionally, infographics are incredibly popular since they’re the best means of sharing information through social media. This can be proven when you consider the number, and type, of online items that have gone viral (popular items shared on the Internet). While it’s common to share an update, tweet or blog post, infographic items, relating to videos and photos, can spread like wildfire over the Internet.
It should also be noted that current online trends have contributed to the popularity of infographics. The most obvious trend has to do with shorter attention spans of Internet users. Think about those of us who possess multiple email accounts, Facebook and Twitter profiles and the deluge of online data that they’re hit with, on a daily basis. There just isn’t enough time to stay on a single online location, for an extended period of time. An infographic cuts down on the time it takes to view and understand/enjoy online content.
Finally, infographics provide an appealing way to share tremendous amounts of information. Just consider the quantity of data that just one picture can convey, as opposed to words written on a page! It all boils down to the decision of writing a lengthy report and posting it to a site for people to read, or using an infographic to relay the same amount of information.