As information becomes overwhelmingly accessible online, it also becomes exceedingly complex to digest in the short time frame in which it has our attention. If your information can’t grab someone’s attention within the first 8 seconds, you are likely to lose them. How then do we share complex ideas and large amounts of information quickly? One ingenious solution moving into the online space is information graphics or infographics for short.
Infographics are visual representations used to transmit information, data or knowledge quickly and clearly. When used online, the opportunity to include interactive elements and/or time-based information makes it even more attractive, persuasive and engaging. When knowledge is transferred so efficiently that words are oftentimes unnecessary, the result is nothing short of art. (Think Edward Tufte)
The most exciting part about using infographics online is its ability to spread virally. When an image conveys useful information, one tends to share the link with those he/she knows will be interested. Just take a look at the search results from Digg on the term “infographic” to see where we are headed.
