Visual Literacy: The power of sound and visuals

So Sunday my lady friend (Cora) couldn’t handle NOT giving me my valentine day gift early. She gets overly excited by this sort of thing (it’s one of the many reasons I like her.) So she made me close my eyes and handed me a box (not wrapping gifts is one of our things.) When I opened my eyes I sew something I offhandedly commented about how cool it would be to have.

                            (Best valentine gift EVER.)                (SO dreamy)

It was a Sony wireless headset (AMAZING!). See I have friends that are all over the U.S. and the easiest way to keep in touch and “hang out” is to game. For it to work well I have to have a headset with a microphone so I can talk to them. My old headset was cheap and bought in hast.

                                          (yuk...)

Well come to find out buying cheap isn’t always better. I constantly had problems with them but nothing that warranted getting a new pair. Once I connected my new headset to my PlayStation/PC I realized what I have been missing.

One of the unexpected bonuses was that the headset simulates surround sound. Now I understand that this class is about visuals but my headset only points out how much sound can enhance visuals. Last year the game “Dead Island” was released by a fairly unknown developer at the time (Deep silver.) Before the release they announced it with a trailer.

Dead Island trailer

(This trailer does have blood and gore. It might not be appropriate for everyone. Be aware there is violence in the trailer.) 

This was one of the most powerful trailers ever made. It is why the game was so successful! Because of the trailer the game pre-orders (people buying the game before it was released) were above 1.5 million copies. They even got a movie deal out of it (BEFORE anyone has even played it!) This was unheard of at the time. I have watched the trailer many times both with sound and without. Without sound it doesn’t hold a lot of weight but with sounds its emotional…terrifying…and sad. Now I own the game and like it. But a lot of people don’t (a lot of mixed reviews online.) I have always wondered if this game would have sold as well if that trailer wouldn’t have combined visuals with sounds.

                                          (Me and my new head set...just a fun shot)

Visual Symbols in My Life

So as I started to think about the phrase “visual symbols” and how it affects my life. The first thing I thought of was my cell phone. When not in use it’s nothing more than a square black brick (lifeless...doesn't even look fun)

I bring everywhere but when someone calls/texts me it lights up like a neon Christmas gift. 

(Just SCREAMS look at me...little gift of words from a friend!)


I have a little party in my head every time I see it light up. Most of the time it is nothing important (friend telling me there late or a random smiley) but it still triggers some kind of positive reaction from me. I feel the biggest thing affected by visual symbols in my day to day life would have to be driving. From the gas gage to the scary service engine light tells the driver what to do.

 (gas gage)                                (The scary service engine sign...yikes)
 You (as the driver) even get to tell others what you’re doing with the power of your turning signals.
(Well...clearly I'm turning right)
If the visual symbol is used properly or will designed it should become universally understood.