Time can be visually represented in a large number of ways. There are different strategies used to display the passage of time as shown by Marilyn Mitchell. There is a representation of time in language, showing an imaginary path of speech. The right facing timeline is important in its usage for showing evolution and the progression of man because it goes from left to right showing man facing the future. Temporal sequencing is important when involving multiple factors or events. Timescales can arrange items in order of less to more or from more to less with out using specific intervals. The left to right timelines are effective due to the fact that we read from left to right therefore a timeline following that same pattern is more easily interpreted. Boustrophedon timelines creates a sense of continuity and flow showing arrows leading your eye to the next event. Winding timelines can be viewed left to right or top to bottom due to its map like layout.
Some visual displays of timelines are proven more effective than others when showing information in a time sequence. I believe that since our culture reads from left to right, that a left to right timeline get the point and the direction of movement across very clearly. I also found the Boustrophedon timeline very interesting because it has an easy flow to follow and can show a lot of information in a direct way with clear signals of direction.
