Acknowledgements

This work is supported in part by the National Science Foundation and by the Arizona Technology and Research Initiative Fund through the University of Arizona Internet Technology, Commerce and Design Institute.


The TimeCenter icon on the top combines two "arrows". These "arrows" are letters in the so-called Runic alphabet used one millennium ago by the Vikings, as well as by their predecessors and successors. The Runic alphabet (second phase) has 16 letters. They all have angular shapes and lack horizontal lines because the primary storage medium was wood. However, runes may also be found on jewelry, tools, and weapons. Runes were perceived by many as having magic, hidden powers. The two Rune arrows in the icon denote "T" and "C", respectively.