A synchronoptic view is a

graphic Graphics () are visual images or designs on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, screen, paper, or stone, to inform, illustrate, or entertain. In contemporary usage, it includes a pictorial representation of data, as in design and manufacture, ...

display of a number of

entities An entity is something that exists as itself, as a subject or as an object, actually or potentially, concretely or abstractly, physically or not. It need not be of material existence. In particular, abstractions and legal fictions are usually ...

as they proceed through time. A synchronoptic view can be used for many purposes but is best suited to the visual display of

history History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...

. A number of related

timeline A timeline is a display of a list of events in chronological order. It is typically a graphic design showing a long bar labelled with dates paralleling it, and usually contemporaneous events. Timelines can use any suitable scale representi ...

s can be drawn on a single chart showing which events and lives are contemporary and which are unconnected. A synchronoptic view has important

education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...

al advantages.

Visible Visibility, in meteorology, is a measure of the distance at which an object or light can be seen. Visibility may also refer to: * A measure of turbidity in water quality control * Interferometric visibility, which quantifies interference contrast ...

information is much more easily learned, than when it is presented only in pure text form.

History History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...

is an ideal subject for a synchronoptic view. Multiple

s are able to show how events interacted. Multiple lifelines can show which people were contemporaries.
See example
A combination of maps is also synchronoptic when it displays successive moments in time.

Etymology

The

concept Concepts are defined as abstract ideas. They are understood to be the fundamental building blocks of the concept behind principles, thoughts and beliefs. They play an important role in all aspects of cognition. As such, concepts are studied by s ...

in question is made

visual The visual system comprises the sensory organ (the eye) and parts of the central nervous system (the retina containing photoreceptor cells, the optic nerve, the optic tract and the visual cortex) which gives organisms the sense of sight (the ...

— hence ''optic''. The elements are displayed synchronously: i.e. which events in one area happened at the same time as events in another seemingly unrelated area. Thus ''synchron-optic''. Synchronoptic also means visible at the same time", or "with parallel views". i.e. The user gets a view of all the information in one go.

Carte chronographique

Barbeu-Dubourg - Chronographie (Tableau 34)

Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg (12 February 1709 – 14 December 1779) was a French physician, botanist, writer, translator and publisher known for translating Benjamin Franklin's work into French and for inventing a gentlemen's umbrella fitted with a ligh ...

(1709–1779) was the first to develop a synchronoptical visualisation with his ''Chronographie universelle & details qui en dependent pour la Chronologie & les Genealogies'' (1753) abbreviated to ''Carte chronographique''. The chronograph chart consisted of 35 prints which were designed to be stuck together in a row, enabling 6,500 years to be represented in . The horizontal axis representing the passage of time was consistent throughout, but the vertical axis was varied depending on the categories Barbeu-Dubourg considered relevant for that period of history.

References

External links

Hyper History Online
A good example of a synchronoptic view of history
Adams Synchronological Chart

Etymology

Carte chronographique

References

External links

See also