Actually the first picture language - Isotype (International System of Typographic) was founded and developed by Austrian sociologist Otto Neurath (1882 – 1945) in 1936, a main function of Isotype was to transform a complex source of information into a self-explanatory chart in addition making them visually attractive and memorable.
According to Edo Smithshuijzen: Otto Neurath invented the famous Isotype pictorial system that has proved to be internationally usable. In one of his book titled The Language of a Global Polis, he displayed his global understanding of the unification between culture and linguistic. Neurath established his view towards the modern metropolis by using visual media to create pictorial statistics. (2007, p.324).
Many of Neurath’s works demonstrate the extraordinary reach of his historical, scientific and geographical awareness and knowledge, as well as his confidence and ambition in the use of Isotype charts to convey this information. A series of three books for children eventually published in 1948, titled 'Visual history of mankind', the books explained the rationale behind this innovative approach to teaching history. The use of questions it proposes would encourage children to engage with the content of charts. The charts themselves would be designed according to Isotype principles: purposeful use of color; use of comparison; making sure that the most important things could be seen at first glance, with more detail being evident on closer scrutiny; and the consistent use of pictorial symbols. (Isotype revisited, 2009)
This marked the beginning of graphic revolution in applying pictogram interdisciplinary. Neurath's "international picture language" laid the foundation for international graphic symbols, i.e. for the pictographic signals of airport, train-station, and highway signs. Today, the use of graphics at the human-computer interface further demonstrates the power of pictographic communication.
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