I had an idea using coloured squares to represents groups of bits and
using a snaking ribbon that goes from single to double width.

I saw one rather large image on the net. It looked like little cartoon
delegates at the UN each shouting out the name of their favourite
encoding.

Maybe streams made of little country flags that transform into a
repeated images of earth from space.

On Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:51:21 +0100, RedGrittyBrick
<RedGrittyBrick@spamweary.invalid> wrote, quoted or indirectly quoted
someone who said :

The main purpose of the icon would be for the grid at
http://mindprod.com/jgloss/jgloss.html so that you can rapidly go to
the encoding section of the Java glossary.  

It does not have to be an icon in the sense of a airport washroom
icon.  It is more like the "salmon" or "fir tree" symbol in a section
of a shopping mall parking lot to help people remember where they left
their car.  

There are words beside it.  It is more something to catch your eye for
repeat use.  It is more of a mnemonic than an icon.