圖像文字的應用，自古以來為人類溝通行為重要的一環。在現代的社會中，圖像文字已成為人們習以為常的生活元素，人們使用圖像文字輔佐訊息溝通，已成為一種常識，同時也是相關單位關注的議題。在二十一世紀，隨著科技日新月異，以及數位技術的快速進步，圖像文字的應用以及未來接觸的領域，將擁有嶄新發展的可能性。本研究採歷史研究法，以時間為軸線，彙整並考察相關文獻，以釐清圖像文字歷史的發展脈絡，並作為後續有關圖像文字系統化建立的基礎。研究歸納下述結論：（1）以圖像文字發展的視覺語言，擁有民主化無階級的普遍性特質，可以促進文化融合。（2）二十世紀初葉奧地利學者奧圖‧諾伊拉特倡議的依索體系（ISOTYPE），啟迪現代圖像文字的發展。（3）電子技術的快速發展，提供圖像文字多元的趨勢。（4）以圖形為思考的語言邏輯，需要全新的建構，是圖像文字未來發展的重要課題。（5）圖像文字提供資訊爆炸時代，化繁為簡的有序解決之道。本研究藉由上述討論的結果，提供後續研究與應用發展的思考方向，以建立圖像文字學術立論的基礎。

The use of pictogram has been an important part of human communication. Pictogram has become part of our daily life in modern society, and people use pictograms as part of message communication. As pictogram has become common sense, it thus attracts the attention of related units.The technological advancement and thriving digital technology in the 21st century have increased unprecedented possibilities to the application and future development of pictogram. With the historical approach and review of related literature, this study traced the historical development of pictogram in a timeline and could be used as a foundation for establishing a pictographic system in the future.Conclusions of this study indicate that: (1) visual languages developed from pictogram fulfill the classless and equal qualities in democracy and could promote cultural fusion; (2) the ISOTYPE created by Austrian scholar Otto Neurath in the earlier 20th century has inspired the development of pictogram;
(3) the rapid development of electronic technology has given rise to pictographic diversification; (4)the establishment of a new logical thinking of icon-based languages is an important issue in the future
development of pictogram; and (5) pictogram is a solution for simplifying message communication in the information explosion era. Based on the above conclusions, this study provides a new path for the future research, application, and development of pictogram in order to establish academic rationale for pictogram.