Sessions 25 & 26 Science: Engineering
EMOJIS Whether you or emojis, they’re a part of modern life. Here’s how they’re created. ALL ABOUT ENGINEERING: Programming, Design Process
E very day, people send billions of emojis to one another via text what we’re feeling when we can’t see
AS YOU READ, THINK ABOUT the steps in the design process used to create an emoji.
messages and posts to social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. We rely on these tiny images to express
or
hear
who we’re chatting with. But where
do these cute icons come from
? Next
time you send a , there’s a group of computer scientists you should thank. The Unicode Consortium is a nonprofit or a organization made up primarily of people from tech companies such as Apple, Google, and Adobe. It’s tasked with managing the world’s emojis by assigning each a unique alphanumeric code, consisting of letters and numbers . Any smartphone , tablet, or computer can translate these codes into their corresponding emojis. Each year, Consortium members meet to review more than 100 proposals
DISTINCT DESIGNS Different tech companies often have their own unique visual representation for
an emoji, like the telescope.
Apple
for new emojis—about 50 get chosen. The group uses several factors to decide which ones get approved. Emojis must be easily recognizable , likely to be
WHO CREATED THE FIRST EMOJIS? Go to scholastic.com /scienceworld to watch a video and learn about their origins.
became available in a range of skin colors . In 2017, the group approved an emoji depicting a woman wearing a hijab, or head scarf . And this year, a new set of emojis will represent people with disabilities . Anyone can propose a new emoji—even teens, like you ! In fact, a 15-year-old
used by many people
, and
useful for communication . No company logos or depictions of real people are allowed . The Consortium also tries to add emojis that are diverse and inclusive. In 2015, emojis
Microsoft
74 Sessions 25 & 26
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