
thank you hello it’s very kind of view I think about emojis more than the average
think about emojis more than the average
think about emojis more than the average person when I say the word keyboard you
person when I say the word keyboard you
person when I say the word keyboard you probably think of something like this
probably think of something like this
probably think of something like this the standard QWERTY keyboard but when I
the standard QWERTY keyboard but when I
the standard QWERTY keyboard but when I think of a keyboard I think of this the
think of a keyboard I think of this the
think of a keyboard I think of this the emoji keyboard while the QWERTY keyboard
emoji keyboard while the QWERTY keyboard
emoji keyboard while the QWERTY keyboard was designed to work around the physical
was designed to work around the physical
was designed to work around the physical limitations of the typewriter the emoji
limitations of the typewriter the emoji
limitations of the typewriter the emoji keyboard was born in an era without
keyboard was born in an era without
keyboard was born in an era without these restrictions yet as popular as
these restrictions yet as popular as
these restrictions yet as popular as QWERTY years it’s now used on less than
QWERTY years it’s now used on less than
QWERTY years it’s now used on less than 20% of phones around the world and which
20% of phones around the world and which
20% of phones around the world and which keyboards in use on 100% of phones the
keyboards in use on 100% of phones the
keyboards in use on 100% of phones the emoji keyboard over the past 20 years
emoji keyboard over the past 20 years
emoji keyboard over the past 20 years emojis have gone from a niche Japanese
emojis have gone from a niche Japanese
emojis have gone from a niche Japanese experiment to a global phenomenon the
experiment to a global phenomenon the
experiment to a global phenomenon the media loves to refer to emoji is the
media loves to refer to emoji is the
media loves to refer to emoji is the universal language but is that one thing
universal language but is that one thing
universal language but is that one thing that is true is that the emoji keyboard
that is true is that the emoji keyboard
that is true is that the emoji keyboard we use today is the result of more
we use today is the result of more
we use today is the result of more meetings and more decisions than the
meetings and more decisions than the
meetings and more decisions than the QWERTY keyboard is ever seen for
QWERTY keyboard is ever seen for
QWERTY keyboard is ever seen for instance you note the emoji of the salsa
instance you note the emoji of the salsa
instance you note the emoji of the salsa dancing lady she has an official name
dancing lady she has an official name
dancing lady she has an official name her name is dancer and for this emoji
her name is dancer and for this emoji
her name is dancer and for this emoji alone I’ve spent countless hours over
alone I’ve spent countless hours over
alone I’ve spent countless hours over the last four years of my life
the last four years of my life
the last four years of my life documenting how she’s used and how she’s
documenting how she’s used and how she’s
documenting how she’s used and how she’s changed she’s been through a lot
and it’s not just her though all the
and it’s not just her though all the Modi’s have a history and the set of
Modi’s have a history and the set of
Modi’s have a history and the set of emojis we have on our phones today is no
emojis we have on our phones today is no
emojis we have on our phones today is no accident have you ever noticed how
accident have you ever noticed how
accident have you ever noticed how there’s so many emojis for the weather
there’s so many emojis for the weather
there’s so many emojis for the weather there’s a reason for this and it’s to do
there’s a reason for this and it’s to do
there’s a reason for this and it’s to do with where emojis were invented Japan if
with where emojis were invented Japan if
with where emojis were invented Japan if you remember back to the late 1990s text
you remember back to the late 1990s text
you remember back to the late 1990s text messaging was taking off around the
messaging was taking off around the
messaging was taking off around the world and yet something about these
world and yet something about these
world and yet something about these messages post a particular challenge in
messages post a particular challenge in
messages post a particular challenge in Japan it ceased writing a standard
Japan it ceased writing a standard
Japan it ceased writing a standard letter in Japan would involve starting
letter in Japan would involve starting
letter in Japan would involve starting with something about the weather or the
with something about the weather or the
with something about the weather or the season or the health of your recipient
season or the health of your recipient
season or the health of your recipient it’s rude not to but how do you fit that
it’s rude not to but how do you fit that
it’s rude not to but how do you fit that into 160 character text message right
into 160 character text message right
into 160 character text message right emojis were the answer and many of the
emojis were the answer and many of the
emojis were the answer and many of the emojis we use today were direct
emojis we use today were direct
emojis we use today were direct descendants of this original emoji set
descendants of this original emoji set
descendants of this original emoji set from Japan now you might be thinking
from Japan now you might be thinking
from Japan now you might be thinking didn’t we already have emoticons in 1998
didn’t we already have emoticons in 1998
didn’t we already have emoticons in 1998 well yes but emojis for little pictures
well yes but emojis for little pictures
well yes but emojis for little pictures at a time when other phones were making
at a time when other phones were making
at a time when other phones were making faces by turning punctuation on its side
faces by turning punctuation on its side
faces by turning punctuation on its side emojis were a clever hack that they
emojis were a clever hack that they
emojis were a clever hack that they treated these characters like additional
treated these characters like additional
treated these characters like additional Japanese characters on the basic forms
Japanese characters on the basic forms
Japanese characters on the basic forms of the day and so when you sent an emoji
of the day and so when you sent an emoji
of the day and so when you sent an emoji of a girl it wouldn’t actually send the
of a girl it wouldn’t actually send the
of a girl it wouldn’t actually send the image of a girl it would just send a
image of a girl it would just send a
image of a girl it would just send a little code to say insert the girl emoji
little code to say insert the girl emoji
little code to say insert the girl emoji here and when that emoji would go to the
here and when that emoji would go to the
here and when that emoji would go to the other end to another phone that phone
other end to another phone that phone
other end to another phone that phone would display that emoji with its own
would display that emoji with its own
would display that emoji with its own image it didn’t mean that they could
image it didn’t mean that they could
image it didn’t mean that they could look a little bit different depending on
look a little bit different depending on
look a little bit different depending on your type of phone and actually what one
your type of phone and actually what one
your type of phone and actually what one thing that would happen is that some
thing that would happen is that some
thing that would happen is that some phones didn’t use the same code for each
phones didn’t use the same code for each
phones didn’t use the same code for each emoji so that girl could turn into
emoji so that girl could turn into
emoji so that girl could turn into something else entirely
something else entirely
something else entirely and yet as frustrating as that must have
and yet as frustrating as that must have
and yet as frustrating as that must have been people still loved them and so when
been people still loved them and so when
been people still loved them and so when Google wanted to bring Gmail to Japan in
Google wanted to bring Gmail to Japan in
Google wanted to bring Gmail to Japan in 2008 they quickly found that emoji might
2008 they quickly found that emoji might
2008 they quickly found that emoji might be their downfall
be their downfall
be their downfall Google’s research found that people
Google’s research found that people
Google’s research found that people considered messages without emojis to be
considered messages without emojis to be
considered messages without emojis to be dry
dry
dry the term dry mail came up in them in
the term dry mail came up in them in
the term dry mail came up in them in their conversations
their conversations
their conversations they’d say an emoji list message is dry
they’d say an emoji list message is dry
they’d say an emoji list message is dry male 1 Google engineer found that emojis
male 1 Google engineer found that emojis
male 1 Google engineer found that emojis were considered the best way to
were considered the best way to
were considered the best way to apologize that’s what this guy’s for and
apologize that’s what this guy’s for and
apologize that’s what this guy’s for and so it quickly became clear that Google
so it quickly became clear that Google
so it quickly became clear that Google wanted to launch Gmail in Japan it had
wanted to launch Gmail in Japan it had
wanted to launch Gmail in Japan it had to support emoji so Google worked as
to support emoji so Google worked as
to support emoji so Google worked as standards bodies to make emojis work in
standards bodies to make emojis work in
standards bodies to make emojis work in a way that was compatible with the
a way that was compatible with the
a way that was compatible with the outside world
outside world
outside world there was already a system in place at
there was already a system in place at
there was already a system in place at this time called Unicode it had been
this time called Unicode it had been
this time called Unicode it had been around since the early 90s making sure
around since the early 90s making sure
around since the early 90s making sure that text works when sent from one
that text works when sent from one
that text works when sent from one country to another and given that emojis
country to another and given that emojis
country to another and given that emojis in Japan were treated like text it made
in Japan were treated like text it made
in Japan were treated like text it made sense to use this Unicode standard now
sense to use this Unicode standard now
sense to use this Unicode standard now all this going well with the effort
all this going well with the effort
all this going well with the effort until one emoji stood out to Google’s
until one emoji stood out to Google’s
until one emoji stood out to Google’s team in the US
now this is the pile of poo emoji
now this is the pile of poo emoji actually at the time it looked like this
actually at the time it looked like this
actually at the time it looked like this on Japanese farts that even had these
on Japanese farts that even had these
on Japanese farts that even had these little animated flies and this emoji was
little animated flies and this emoji was
little animated flies and this emoji was considered absolutely essential to the
considered absolutely essential to the
considered absolutely essential to the emoji set Engineers and Google had to
emoji set Engineers and Google had to
emoji set Engineers and Google had to argue the case to say that removing this
argue the case to say that removing this
argue the case to say that removing this emoji would be like removing a letter of
emoji would be like removing a letter of
emoji would be like removing a letter of the alphabet from the QWERTY keyboard
the alphabet from the QWERTY keyboard
the alphabet from the QWERTY keyboard and so after a considerable debate this
and so after a considerable debate this
and so after a considerable debate this poo made it into the final emoji set and
poo made it into the final emoji set and
poo made it into the final emoji set and because emojis have become part of this
because emojis have become part of this
because emojis have become part of this Unicode standard it meant that any
Unicode standard it meant that any
Unicode standard it meant that any company could now use them these are
company could now use them these are
company could now use them these are some of the poos on different phones
some of the poos on different phones
some of the poos on different phones there’s the separate matter of why some
there’s the separate matter of why some
there’s the separate matter of why some peers have eyes and others don’t but I
peers have eyes and others don’t but I
peers have eyes and others don’t but I do have to move on I’m so sorry
do have to move on I’m so sorry
do have to move on I’m so sorry now when Apple brought emojis to the
now when Apple brought emojis to the
now when Apple brought emojis to the iPhone what’s the first time many of us
iPhone what’s the first time many of us
iPhone what’s the first time many of us outside of Japan had seen them and we
outside of Japan had seen them and we
outside of Japan had seen them and we thought that were pretty cute but we
thought that were pretty cute but we
thought that were pretty cute but we didn’t think too much more about them
didn’t think too much more about them
didn’t think too much more about them until a few years later a stunning
until a few years later a stunning
until a few years later a stunning realization was made see if you can spot
realization was made see if you can spot
realization was made see if you can spot it right they’re all white
it right they’re all white
it right they’re all white well except this guy
well except this guy
well except this guy every human emoji except the turban
every human emoji except the turban
every human emoji except the turban wearing man was white and now that
wearing man was white and now that
wearing man was white and now that emojis were in use globally it wasn’t
emojis were in use globally it wasn’t
emojis were in use globally it wasn’t going to stand in hindsight it’s
going to stand in hindsight it’s
going to stand in hindsight it’s probably pretty weird that we could only
probably pretty weird that we could only
probably pretty weird that we could only send a white boy or a white girl or a
send a white boy or a white girl or a
send a white boy or a white girl or a white man or a white woman and so a
white man or a white woman and so a
white man or a white woman and so a decision was made Unicode the standards
decision was made Unicode the standards
decision was made Unicode the standards group I mentioned earlier they made a
group I mentioned earlier they made a
group I mentioned earlier they made a recommendation they said white was out
recommendation they said white was out
recommendation they said white was out and yellow was in as the new default
and yellow was in as the new default
and yellow was in as the new default skin tone for all human emojis the ideal
skin tone for all human emojis the ideal
skin tone for all human emojis the ideal is to pick something neutral that could
is to pick something neutral that could
is to pick something neutral that could be you just not like the original smiley
be you just not like the original smiley
be you just not like the original smiley representative of anyone but as noble as
representative of anyone but as noble as
representative of anyone but as noble as that intention might have been a lot of
that intention might have been a lot of
that intention might have been a lot of people didn’t consider yellow to be
people didn’t consider yellow to be
people didn’t consider yellow to be truly neutral years of conditioning from
truly neutral years of conditioning from
truly neutral years of conditioning from a certain Yeller family taught us that
a certain Yeller family taught us that
a certain Yeller family taught us that yellow isn’t actually neutral it’s white
yellow isn’t actually neutral it’s white
yellow isn’t actually neutral it’s white too
somehow a system had been set up where
somehow a system had been set up where white is white and yellow is also white
white is white and yellow is also white
white is white and yellow is also white some companies thought we’ll try and
some companies thought we’ll try and
some companies thought we’ll try and diversify this default Microsoft tried
diversify this default Microsoft tried
diversify this default Microsoft tried gray emojis as the neutral skin tone but
gray emojis as the neutral skin tone but
gray emojis as the neutral skin tone but every everybody hated those others
every everybody hated those others
every everybody hated those others considered saying that blue or purple
considered saying that blue or purple
considered saying that blue or purple would be truly neutral that that could
would be truly neutral that that could
would be truly neutral that that could be used and it wouldn’t be
be used and it wouldn’t be
be used and it wouldn’t be representative of any particular group
representative of any particular group
representative of any particular group but who wants a blue baby emoji no
but who wants a blue baby emoji no
but who wants a blue baby emoji no matter no matter how racially neutral
matter no matter how racially neutral
matter no matter how racially neutral that could be and so yellow was chosen
that could be and so yellow was chosen
that could be and so yellow was chosen as the default skin tone on most phones
as the default skin tone on most phones
as the default skin tone on most phones but we also got the choice to change it
but we also got the choice to change it
but we also got the choice to change it problem solved right look at all this
problem solved right look at all this
problem solved right look at all this diversity but notice anything that’s
diversity but notice anything that’s
diversity but notice anything that’s also a bit off about this group of fit
also a bit off about this group of fit
also a bit off about this group of fit young racially diverse emojis right
young racially diverse emojis right
young racially diverse emojis right they’re old men but there are women too
they’re old men but there are women too
they’re old men but there are women too and as of 2016 this is what they were
and as of 2016 this is what they were
and as of 2016 this is what they were doing
2016 so while the men had jobs Armour
2016 so while the men had jobs Armour playing sports
the women were having massages and
the women were having massages and haircuts and getting married and like
haircuts and getting married and like
haircuts and getting married and like the old white emojis of 2015 the gender
the old white emojis of 2015 the gender
the old white emojis of 2015 the gender disparity of emoji in 2016
disparity of emoji in 2016
disparity of emoji in 2016 really wasn’t ideal but this time there
really wasn’t ideal but this time there
really wasn’t ideal but this time there was a precedent what do you do about a
was a precedent what do you do about a
was a precedent what do you do about a lack of representation in emoji well you
lack of representation in emoji well you
lack of representation in emoji well you add more emojis to the ever-growing
add more emojis to the ever-growing
add more emojis to the ever-growing emoji pyramid some less it’s hard to
emoji pyramid some less it’s hard to
emoji pyramid some less it’s hard to figure out where to draw the line I mean
figure out where to draw the line I mean
figure out where to draw the line I mean just because a white guy like me might
just because a white guy like me might
just because a white guy like me might say the yellows neutrally enough to
say the yellows neutrally enough to
say the yellows neutrally enough to represent anyone does that mean we
represent anyone does that mean we
represent anyone does that mean we should all agree central to this
should all agree central to this
should all agree central to this question of which new emojis are added
question of which new emojis are added
question of which new emojis are added is the Unicode consortium it’s made up
is the Unicode consortium it’s made up
is the Unicode consortium it’s made up of companies like Apple and Google and
of companies like Apple and Google and
of companies like Apple and Google and Microsoft they have to work together to
Microsoft they have to work together to
Microsoft they have to work together to make sure that text works from my
make sure that text works from my
make sure that text works from my computer to your computer or from my
computer to your computer or from my
computer to your computer or from my phone to your phone I’m on the committee
phone to your phone I’m on the committee
phone to your phone I’m on the committee at Unicode that’s dedicated to the
at Unicode that’s dedicated to the
at Unicode that’s dedicated to the planning of emoji updates and we meet
planning of emoji updates and we meet
planning of emoji updates and we meet every single week and because of the way
every single week and because of the way
every single week and because of the way emojis work these companies do have to
emojis work these companies do have to
emojis work these companies do have to agree on which new emojis to support
agree on which new emojis to support
agree on which new emojis to support before adding them to your phones and so
before adding them to your phones and so
before adding them to your phones and so yes there is a room on the west coast of
yes there is a room on the west coast of
yes there is a room on the west coast of America where Apple Google Microsoft and
America where Apple Google Microsoft and
America where Apple Google Microsoft and others meet to discuss whether to add an
others meet to discuss whether to add an
others meet to discuss whether to add an emoji for broccoli or redheads or which
emoji for broccoli or redheads or which
emoji for broccoli or redheads or which of the dinosaurs are deserving if there
of the dinosaurs are deserving if there
of the dinosaurs are deserving if there are an emoji
are an emoji
are an emoji a t-rex is the answer the lat
and while I am on that committee I would
and while I am on that committee I would like to absolve myself from some of the
like to absolve myself from some of the
like to absolve myself from some of the pretty useless looking emojis they are
pretty useless looking emojis they are
pretty useless looking emojis they are there for a reason
there for a reason
there for a reason remember the windings font of the 1990s
remember the windings font of the 1990s
remember the windings font of the 1990s a less popular sequel called webdings
a less popular sequel called webdings
a less popular sequel called webdings and one of the people behind this font
and one of the people behind this font
and one of the people behind this font was a man called Vincent Kinnear he
was a man called Vincent Kinnear he
was a man called Vincent Kinnear he worked and typed in the typography
worked and typed in the typography
worked and typed in the typography department at Microsoft actually this
department at Microsoft actually this
department at Microsoft actually this guy is the guy who designed Comic Sans
guy is the guy who designed Comic Sans
guy is the guy who designed Comic Sans so you know he knows his stuff
now Microsoft had this big list of icons
now Microsoft had this big list of icons to create for web things and one of them
to create for web things and one of them
to create for web things and one of them was called jump Vincent thought it would
was called jump Vincent thought it would
was called jump Vincent thought it would be pretty great if you designed it to
be pretty great if you designed it to
be pretty great if you designed it to look like the man on the front cover of
look like the man on the front cover of
look like the man on the front cover of his album from the specials you might
his album from the specials you might
his album from the specials you might notice the similarity when you see his
notice the similarity when you see his
notice the similarity when you see his final design little did Vincent know
final design little did Vincent know
final design little did Vincent know that one day this character would become
that one day this character would become
that one day this character would become an emoji known as man in business suit
an emoji known as man in business suit
an emoji known as man in business suit levitating just like the original emojis
levitating just like the original emojis
levitating just like the original emojis from Japan were added to this Unicode
from Japan were added to this Unicode
from Japan were added to this Unicode standard for compatibility in 2008 many
standard for compatibility in 2008 many
standard for compatibility in 2008 many of the webdings characters were also
of the webdings characters were also
of the webdings characters were also added to this standard in 2014 and so
added to this standard in 2014 and so
added to this standard in 2014 and so men in business suit every hit are
men in business suit every hit are
men in business suit every hit are emojis at here he is and because his
emojis at here he is and because his
emojis at here he is and because his human – he gets the skin tones as well
now this brings us back to that dancing
now this brings us back to that dancing lady here’s how she’s looked on various
lady here’s how she’s looked on various
lady here’s how she’s looked on various phones over the years just like the
phones over the years just like the
phones over the years just like the original Japanese emoji set where the
original Japanese emoji set where the
original Japanese emoji set where the emojis would look different on one phone
emojis would look different on one phone
emojis would look different on one phone or another that’s still how emojis work
or another that’s still how emojis work
or another that’s still how emojis work today the idea should be that the
today the idea should be that the
today the idea should be that the concept is the same but the appearance
concept is the same but the appearance
concept is the same but the appearance will vary another emoji that’s been
will vary another emoji that’s been
will vary another emoji that’s been around for just as long as the dancer is
around for just as long as the dancer is
around for just as long as the dancer is this one the pistol now Apple used to be
this one the pistol now Apple used to be
this one the pistol now Apple used to be fine with this emoji yep it’s on all
fine with this emoji yep it’s on all
fine with this emoji yep it’s on all phones but one day they decided no we
phones but one day they decided no we
phones but one day they decided no we don’t want a gun on our shiny iPhone
don’t want a gun on our shiny iPhone
don’t want a gun on our shiny iPhone keyboard anymore and so Apple alone
keyboard anymore and so Apple alone
keyboard anymore and so Apple alone don’t have the ability to brute this out
don’t have the ability to brute this out
don’t have the ability to brute this out of being an emoji but what they do
of being an emoji but what they do
of being an emoji but what they do control is how it looks on their own
control is how it looks on their own
control is how it looks on their own phones so one day Apple released an
phones so one day Apple released an
phones so one day Apple released an update in 2016 and it changed this
update in 2016 and it changed this
update in 2016 and it changed this pistol to look like a fluorescent green
pistol to look like a fluorescent green
pistol to look like a fluorescent green water pistol
now this brings up some interesting
now this brings up some interesting points firstly people were mad in my
points firstly people were mad in my
points firstly people were mad in my years running a mojo pedia I’ve not seen
years running a mojo pedia I’ve not seen
years running a mojo pedia I’ve not seen such a negative reaction to any emoji
such a negative reaction to any emoji
such a negative reaction to any emoji change and while Apple might not want
change and while Apple might not want
change and while Apple might not want their users sending guns isn’t any
their users sending guns isn’t any
their users sending guns isn’t any better when an iphone user sends a water
better when an iphone user sends a water
better when an iphone user sends a water pistol and everybody else in the world
pistol and everybody else in the world
pistol and everybody else in the world still sees a gun
now it’s interesting because who thought
now it’s interesting because who thought yes guns are bad but it’s totally fine
yes guns are bad but it’s totally fine
yes guns are bad but it’s totally fine still having the cigarette the knives
still having the cigarette the knives
still having the cigarette the knives the bomb the bloody syringe I mean it’s
the bomb the bloody syringe I mean it’s
the bomb the bloody syringe I mean it’s it’s something that we should think
it’s something that we should think
it’s something that we should think about that the world’s first universal
about that the world’s first universal
about that the world’s first universal keyboard that we’ve ever seen it’s so
keyboard that we’ve ever seen it’s so
keyboard that we’ve ever seen it’s so fractured it’s so bizarre and yet this
fractured it’s so bizarre and yet this
fractured it’s so bizarre and yet this is why we love it
is why we love it
is why we love it when we think of it designed by
when we think of it designed by
when we think of it designed by committee we normally think of something
committee we normally think of something
committee we normally think of something that’s bland and boring and pleases no
that’s bland and boring and pleases no
that’s bland and boring and pleases no one but emoji somehow the opposite its
one but emoji somehow the opposite its
one but emoji somehow the opposite its quirky its imperfect and yet there’s
quirky its imperfect and yet there’s
quirky its imperfect and yet there’s something for everyone well nearly
something for everyone well nearly
something for everyone well nearly everyone these are some emojis in active
everyone these are some emojis in active
everyone these are some emojis in active development right now and so next time
development right now and so next time
development right now and so next time you look at your phone to type in emoji
you look at your phone to type in emoji
you look at your phone to type in emoji I hope you’ll wonder what its story is
I hope you’ll wonder what its story is
I hope you’ll wonder what its story is because I’m sure it has one thank you
because I’m sure it has one thank you
because I’m sure it has one thank you [Applause]
”
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