His visual message, which he could never articulate so bluntly, is that although he is black, he is not threatening.

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"What they didn't do was stick to one visual, one message, " Mr. Foster said.

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Visual aids complement what you are saying to help convey your message.

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Colored squares on the data tags for airplanes on the controller's radar screen change as pilots respond so that controllers get an extra visual cue in case a pilot doesn't see a message.

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Visual art also transcends the barrier of language, making both the work and message able to be viewed by a global audience.

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