What's new for the emoji keyboard that is used in many messaging applications such as WhatsAppNot long ago, new features like the famous "peineta" (comb) and the one representing paella were included, and now it seems that soon there will be new icons that are both representative and fun (and that adapt to the current times, it must be said).
The fact is that there will be an update of the unicode-9, responsible for the aforementioned keyboard, and, as is logical, there will be inclusions at "popular request" so that communication with icons, already widely used by all users, is more complete. The fact is that there are two proposals that have many ballots to be accepted and that, at least in my case, seem to me most successful since they respond to several of the actions that almost all of us currently do.
The first is the one that has to do with the already famous and widely used selfiesThis type of self-photography has become our daily bread, and very few people haven't taken a photo of this type using their mobile phone. The fact is that, whether it's to request one or to indicate that the photo being sent via WhatsApp is a selfie, the corresponding option is added. selfie emoji on the keyboard.
And a whole "facepalm"
This is the one I liked the most, I have to admit it. The icon represents a person who hits - or is hit - in the face. This is commonly known as "facepalm”, And it comes to represent a large number of actions or moments… for example, when you make an ungraceful mistake. Some, even, can represent it as a "Whoosh, in all the mouth" of the well-known Sheldon Cooper (the most geeks know perfectly what I am talking about), so surely it is an icon that is widely used in applications such as WhatsApp.
In the previous image you can see a recreation, it does not have to be the final result, of the icons we are talking about and, also, of the rest of those that have options to be part of the new emoji keyboard once the review of this. The truth is that there is nothing bad left, and it is convenient update the icons, since there are some that at least in my case I have never used in WhatsAppWhat do you think?
More candidates asking for a place at the keyboard
The Unicode Consortium, responsible for the standard, usually publishes lists of candidates before approving them. At this stage, the designs appear in black and white and each platform then adapts the style to color, maintaining the essence of the pictogram (A cucumber, for example, could materialize as a jar of pickles, depending on the provider.) Among the candidates that have generated the most interest are, in addition to selfies and facepalms, numerous gestures, people, food, animals, and objects that expand the visual vocabulary:
- Cowboy hat face, clown face, nauseous face, ROFL (rolling with laughter), drooling face, Pinocchio-like lying face.
- Hand shaped like a telephone, Selfie, back of hand raised, fist to the left, fist to the right, hands clasped, fingers crossed.
- Pregnant woman, facepalm, shrug, man dancing disco, prince, man in tuxedo, Santa Claus.
- Withered flower, scooter, moped, octagonal sign, toast, black heart.
- Croissant, avocado, cucumber, bacon, potato, carrot.
- Fox face, eagle, duck, bat, shark, owl.
These additions add to the trend of strengthening the racial and gender diversity, with more skin tones and female/male versions of professions and activities, something that has already been implemented in the latest revisions of the standard.
From candidates to approved candidates: what Unicode 9 brought
Once the process was over, Unicode 9 consolidated a larger batch with 72 new emojis that cover highly demanded categories: emotions (such as ROTFL or drooling face), gestures (crossed fingers, “call me”), roles (prince, Santa Claus, pregnant woman), food (paella, croissant, bacon, bread, salad, egg, glasses toasting), from? (gorilla, fox, rhinoceros, owl, butterfly, shark, duck, squid, shrimp), sports and objects (medals, boxing gloves, martial arts uniform, goal, drum, shopping cart), as well as symbols such as the black heart or the octagonal sign.
It is worth remembering that Unicode publishes the standard and then each company implement it at your own pace. iOS, Android and other systems can receive them at different times, and apps like WhatsApp Facebook sometimes renders its own designs to ensure that all users see the same thing regardless of the device. So, if you don't see a specific icon, it's usually because it depends on a upgrade system, the app, or both.
What they mean and how to use them on WhatsApp
Facepalm: perfect for expressing embarrassment, mistakes, or absurd situations. It saves explanations and softens the ironic tone.
selfie: Useful for indicating that the photo is a self-portrait or for requesting one without typing it in. It complements the camera and stickers.
Gestures and hands: from “call me” to crossed fingers or handshakes, they make it easier to nonverbal communication.
Food and animals: ideal for casual conversations, games, metaphors and cultural context (yes, the paella already has an official icon).
Adoption also brought design tweaks to some classics (for example, variations on the popular "flamenca") and small visual differences between platforms. It's normal for the same emoji to convey different nuances on iOS and Android; hence, Unicode and manufacturers are working to homogenize shapes and colors without losing personality.
The arrival of Selfie, facepalm And the rest of the Unicode 9 candidates/approved characters enrich the WhatsApp keyboard and other apps with a wider range of emotions, gestures, and cultural references. If you like expressing yourself with icons, stay tuned for updates: your repertoire is about to get a lot more precise and fun.
