Infographics - method and means of forming and scientific research of functional systems

The term «infographics» is made of adding the terms «information» and «graphing». The latter was introduced into circulation in 1940 by the Russian researcher L. A. Byzov and generalises all particular terms (drawing, sketching, reproduction, copying, visualisation, etc.) concerning graphic depiction of information by man, computer software or its combination. The notion «infographics» has several definitions: a scientific-practical discipline; a sphere of social consciousness (philosophy, methodology or science); a trend in cybernetics and informatics; a general theoretic science on the life cycle of a document in reprographics; a methodological foundation of designing systems and consulting technical means of image visualisation in informational technologies; a discipline in engineering-technical education; a technology of actions and a trend of thought (worldview) of engineer and researcher.