hyper-correct graphic design

[gfish]

Last night I was walking by the Apple store in Oakridge Mall, and I noticed the pair of very prominent Rutherford-style atomic symbols glowing above the "Genius Bar". And it struck me as very ironic, that they would use a fundamentally incorrect model of the atom to symbolize genius.

"Ha ha", I said, "Isn't Apple silly?"

But that got me thinking -- why do we still use the Rutherford model symbol everywhere? Why haven't we come up with an iconic representation of electron orbitals? Surely a truly advanced civilization would be more correct in its iconography. (Yes, I'm still waiting for everyone to learn a sensible conlang, too.) If I was rich, I would totally fund an institute to work on improving this state of affairs.

Comments

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Though, with China and India solidly on the syllabary/ideogram side of things, I'm not sure alphabets have the majority...

[caladri.livejournal.com]

Depends how you measure people who know more than one. A large percentage of people in China know the English alphabet, there are sizable minorities who use other abjads and alphabets. The majority of India knows the English alphabet, and many use other abjads and alphabets alongside an abugida.