iConji is a free pictographic communication system based on an open, visual vocabulary of characters with built-in translations for most major languages.

In May 2010 iConji Messenger was released with support for Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod) and most web browsers.

[1] In December 2010, iConji Social was released as a web application only, with support for Facebook and Twitter as a broadcast medium.

[3] The usual jumble of text and confusing abbreviations can often be replaced by a short string of colorful icons that convey the identical meaning.

Kai Staats, founder and former CEO of Terra Soft Solutions, original developer of Yellow Dog Linux (YDL), was motivated to create a new communications system that combined the speed of SMS with the richness and linguistic depth of a global art project.

These abstract concepts represent a significant barrier to universal pictographic representation, but the ability to read a translation in one's native language (if needed) can help bridge that gap.

At the close of 2010, these translations included English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, and Toki Pona.

iConji includes inflections for present, past, or future tense verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and possessives.

Many iConji characters follow this noun + infinitive verb format to enable unambiguous translation from its base English into other languages.

Given the widely varying conventions for verb conjugation found in other languages, this is arguably the most flexible way to present a base definition.

The sample iConjisation shown on the screenshot translates as follows: This demonstrates clearly how meaning can be conveyed using a minimal number of characters.

Metadata can be added or accessed via a text box pop-up by clicking on the character, and could include a business name, address, GPS coordinates, or other information.

There were several criteria for acceptance of a submitted character, but the process was made simple using freely available online graphic templates, instructions, and examples.

Character icons were created as vector graphics in tools such as Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, or the free online application SVG-edit.

Alternatively, the proposed character icon could be hand-drawn, scanned as a 300 dpi bitmap, and converted to vector graphics format before being submitted as a potential addition to the iConji vocabulary.