Research: Pictograms

What is a Pictogram?
Google Dictionary:

A pictogram is an ideogram that shows its meaning though its imagery resembling to the physical object. (An Ideogram is a written character that symbolising the idea of a thing without indicating the sounds used to say it, e.g., numerals and Chinese characters)

  

When was the first Pictogram?

Early Written symbols were based on pictograms and idograms. Many languages used pictograms to write, or give information. Languages such as; ancient Egypt and the Greek alphabet. The first symbols that would be used to describe something were first seen around 2000 BC. This was the alphabetical language of the Egyptians, hieroglyphs. Most other alphabets had evolved from this, or were inspired by its design. One language most of all that followed the design of the hieroglyphs was the Greek alphabet. In the third century they had found a script that had involved three languages, Hieroglyphics, Hieratic script and the Greek Alphabet.

Are Pictograms still used today?

Pictograms are still used as insturctions, representational signs. Becuase of the simplistic style of dawings, and the ease of understanding the drawings, these are oftern used world wide as toilets, or directions on signs at airports, train staions, bus stations and any widly used public areas. A standard set of pictograms were defined and used (International standard ISO 7001) which gives public information.
Here are images showing you the International standard ISO 7001 pictograms:

wikimedia.org

http://www.tiresias.org

These pictograms they are very easy to read, and to understand I will keep ion mind that my icons will try to look very simple, and easy to read.