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AmbigramAn ambigram, also known as an inversion, is a graphical figure that spells out a word not only in its form as presented, but also in another direction or orientation. This is typically when viewed as a mirror-image or when rotated through 180 degrees. The word usually is not a palindrome, although it may be. Sometimes the word spelled out from the alternate direction may be a different one, but for mirror-image ambigrams the canonical form spells out the same word.
A mirror-image ambigram for the word "Wiki"
A 180 degree rotatable animation ambigram for the word "ambigram"
Douglas R. Hofstadter describes an ambigram as a "calligraphic design that manages to squeeze two different readings into the selfsame set of curves." The first published reference to the term was by Hofstadter, who attributes the origin of the word to a friend. Ambigrams are exercises in graphic design that play with optical illusions, symmetry and visual perception. Ambigram lovers value especially those with a relation between form and content. Ambigrams feature prominently in Dan Brown's novel, Angels and Demons. The first UK release of the novel featured an ambigram of the title on the cover. Ambigram logos Ambigrams are sometimes used as logos. Notable examples include: - Triology http://www.setgame.com/set/rules_triology.htm
- New X-Men, a comic book series http://www.thexaxis.com/newxmen/newxmen130.htm
- Mosuki, a online calendar sharing site http://mosuki.com/
- Opodo http://www.opodo.com
- Oysho http://www.oysho.com
- Xpedx, a division of International Paper http://www.xpedx.com
- ABBA http://www.abba.de
- Duna, Duna TV (Hungarian television) http://www.dunatv.hu
- GOES, NASA's GOES satellite (designed by Scott Kim) http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/goes/goeslogo.gif
- ONNO, kologisches Unternehmensnetzwerk Ostfriesland http://www.onno-net.de
- OXXO, a Mexican company http://www.tiendasoxxo.com.mx
- SWMS, German software company http://www.swmms.de
- Viva, a German TV music channel. It is an ambigram by pure shape, but the letters are colored differently, so it is not a perfect ambigram http://www.viva.tv
- ASE, The Association for Science Education http://www.ase.org.uk
- CND, China News Digest http://www.cnd.org
- DIP, Database of Interacting Proteins http://dip.doe-mbi.ucla.edu
- DMC, De Lorean Motor Company http://www.delorean.com
- DOP, Digital Outpost http://www.dop.com
- MNW, Music Network http://www.mnw.se
- MOW, Mbel Ordermesse Westfalica http://www.mow.de
- MSW, Muses et Socit en Wallonie http://www.msw.be
- , Sun Microsystems (designed by Vaughan Pratt http://www.sun.com
- VIA, VIA Rail Canada http://www.viarail.ca
- VNA, a Chilean recording studio http://www.vna.scd.cl
- VOA, Voice of America http://www.voanews.com
- VSA, VSA Comunicacin http://www.vsacomunicacion.com
- WOM, a German music company http://www.wom.de
- DP, Don Park, a Canadian manufacturer http://www.donpark.com
- DP, don piso, a well-know Spanish real estate agency http://www.donpiso.com
- JP, Justcia i Pau, a Catalan NGO http://www.justiciaipau.org
- WM, Waste Management http://www.wm.com
- Nuxnu, a German company http://www.nuxnu.de
References - Kim, Scott, Inversions, Byte Books (1981)
- Hofstadter, Douglas R., "Metafont, Metamathematics, and Metaphysics: Comments on Donald Knuth's Article 'The Concept of a Meta-Font'" Scientific American (August 1982) (republished in the book Metamagical Themas)
- Langdon, John, Wordplay: Ambigrams and Reflections on the Art of Ambigrams, Harcourt Brace (1992)
- Hofstadter, Douglas R., Ambigrammi, Hopefulmonster Editore Firenze (1987) (in Italian)
- Ploster, Burkard, Les Ambigrammes l'art de symtriser les mots, Editions Ecritextes (2003) (in French)
- Ploster, Burkard, Eye Twisters: Ambigrams, Escher, and Illusions, web-based book available at http://www.maths.monash.edu.au/~bpolster/ambigram.html (date unknown)
External links
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