Infographics Overload

   1. "50 great examples of infographics"
     <http://blogof.francescomugnai.com/2009/04/50-great-examples-of-infographics/>
   e.g. "Coffee Drinks Illustrated"
     <http://www.lokeshdhakar.com/2007/08/20/an-illustrated-coffee-guide/>

   2. "How The Average U.S. Consumer Spends Their Paycheck"
     <http://www.visualeconomics.com/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-
        paycheck/>

   3. "How Different Groups Spend Their Day"
     <http://www.nytimes.com//interactive/2009/07/31/business/20080801-metrics-
        graphic.html?hp>

   4. "Maps of the Seven Deadly Sins"
     <http://flowingdata.com/2009/05/12/maps-of-the-seven-deadly-sins/>

   5. "Windows 7 Upgrades Chart Makes Brain Hurt; We Offer the Mac Equivalent"
     <http://www.cultofmac.com/windows-7-upgrades-chart-makes-brain-hurt-
        we-offer-the-mac-equivalent/14186>

   6. "Random Charts & Flowcharts to Make You Smile"
     <http://www.bspcn.com/2009/07/25/random-charts-flowcharts-to-make-you-smile/>

   7. "Tech Support Cheat Sheet"
     <http://xkcd.com/627/>

From Tapping to Typing to Texting

   A current TV advertisement for a bank aims to emphasise how, in its more
   than 100 year history, it has remained in business and kept up with the
   changes in communications technologies.  A quote from the ad is: "from
   tapping to typing to texting".

   That got me thinking.  While it's true that mobile phone text messaging
   is much more accessible and convenient than the old telegraph, an
   interesting aspect of this "progress" is the actual process of writing
   the message.  Just how far have we come in making it easy to generate
   the content of a message?  Here's what I mean...

   Tapping (Morse Code, over telegraph wires):
     .... . .-.. .-.. ---

   Typing:
     HELLO

   Texting (multi-tap on a numeric keypad):
     44 33 555 555 666

   Of course, T9/predictive text is usually quicker than multi-tap, but,
   unless you're using a phone with a full QWERTY keyboard, texting is
   still arguably a step backwards in terms of message entry.