Maya pictographs serve as a visual storytelling system, using symbols representing people, animals, and abstract concepts to convey meaning. These pictographs were embedded in their culture, requiring an understanding of their symbolic system to fully understand their messages.
Similarly, Apple and Android biometric icons communicate an essential concept—security. These icons, often represented by fingerprint or facial recognition symbols, giving a sense of protection and personal access. Just as the Maya glyphs required cultural knowledge to interpret, biometric icons rely on learned digital literacy.
Both systems rely on the human ability to recognize patterns and interpret meaning through visual symbols. While the Maya writing system was intricate and historical, today’s digital iconography aims for instant, universal comprehension.