Ologies with Alie Ward – Curiology (EMOJI) Part 1 with Various Emoji Experts

Intro

In this episode of “Ologies with Alie Ward,” the topic of discussion is curiology, specifically focusing on emojis. Alie Ward interviews various emoji experts to explore the origins, design process, cultural significance, and usage of emojis. From the history of emojis to their impact on communication and pop culture, this episode delves into the fascinating world of these visual symbols.

Main Takeaways

The Evolution and Design of Emojis

• Curiosity comes from the Greek word “curiositas” meaning obvious language.
• The term “emoji” is both singular and plural, but the correct Japanese term is “emoji picture character”.
• Emojis are like writing with pictures, conveying something through visuals.
• The Emoji keyboard is a mix of genuine representations of objects and metaphorical symbolic representations of concepts.
• Emoji keyboard design is heavily influenced by comic book conventions and anime/manga styles.

The Role of Emojis in Communication

• Emojis are firmly grounded in a visual space but are supplemental to gesture and intonation.
• Emojis sit in a fascinating place between curiology, semiotics, and design thinking.
• Successful new emojis often identify something familiar that hasn’t been named or pointed out recently.
• Emojis started to spread culturally around 2009 to 2012, almost like a viral soft launch.
• Emojis became an exciting item of pop culture around 2014.

The Creation and Standardization of Emojis

• Emojis were first created in Japan in the late 1990s for use in regular text messages.
• The official names and meanings of emojis come from Unicode, an international standard for every text character in the world.
• The Unicode Consortium is responsible for creating a standardization document for text encoding across all digital devices.
• Emoji Pedia was launched as an information hub for emojis.
• Unicode catalogs emojis internally for tech, while Emoji Pedia catalogs them for the public.

The Interpretation and Cultural Significance of Emojis

• Each emoji has a name, and each platform can display them differently, leading to confusion and misinterpretation.
• Emojis can be used to convey different concepts based on geographical demographics and cultural context.
• Emojis are like body language, culturally appropriate in some parts of the world and not in others.
• Understanding your audience is crucial when using emojis on global platforms like Twitter.
• Emojis can be used as unique sign-offs or fandom representations.

Summary

Evolution and Design of Emojis

Emojis, derived from the Greek word “curiositas,” are visual symbols that convey meaning through pictures. The term “emoji” is both singular and plural, but the correct Japanese term is “emoji picture character.” Emojis are a mix of genuine representations of objects and metaphorical symbolic representations of concepts. Their design is heavily influenced by comic book conventions and anime/manga styles.

The Role of Emojis in Communication

Emojis supplement gesture and intonation in communication, sitting at the intersection of curiology, semiotics, and design thinking. They often identify something familiar that hasn’t been named or pointed out recently. Emojis spread culturally around 2009 to 2012 and became an exciting item of pop culture around 2014.

The Creation and Standardization of Emojis

Emojis were initially created in Japan in the late 1990s for use in regular text messages. The official names and meanings of emojis come from Unicode, an international standard for text characters. The Unicode Consortium, responsible for text encoding standardization, catalogs emojis internally for tech, while Emoji Pedia serves as an information hub for the public.

The Interpretation and Cultural Significance of Emojis

Each emoji has a name, but platforms may display them differently, leading to confusion and misinterpretation. Emojis can convey different concepts based on geographical demographics and cultural context. They are like body language, culturally appropriate in some parts of the world and not in others. Understanding the audience is crucial when using emojis on global platforms. Emojis can also be used as unique sign-offs or representations of fandom.

Conclusion

Emojis have evolved from simple pictorial representations to a complex system of visual communication. Their design, cultural significance, and interpretation play a significant role in modern communication. As emojis continue to shape our digital interactions, understanding their origins and meanings becomes increasingly important.