Apple added 17 new emojis to help you express yourself!
We use emojis daily to express ourselves; these little pictures can help clarify our tone or illustrate our words. They take a simple text and add meaning and emotion to it. Plus, they’re just fun to use. We scroll through our emoji keyboard to find the perfect emoji to match the text. Finding that one that represents what you are trying to say and how you feel can make all the difference in how someone perceives your words. When Apple added new emojis that represent users with disabilities, they opened the doors for millions of people to find that emoji that fits their identity and broadened their ability to express themselves.
Apple’s newest launch of emojis includes some to symbolize the world’s most significant minority, people with disabilities. Apple added new disability-focused emojis to the keyboard, available in various skin tones and genders. Before this launch, there was only one emoji, the universal sign for disabilities. This one symbol has been used for decades to illustrate millions of unique individuals who identify with having a disability. People have a wide range of abilities and disabilities, these new emojis help to express the range of experiences better.
There is still a long way to go for full inclusion and accurate representation of people with disabilities. Still, it is a big step forward to be represented in what has become the most mainstream form of communication, emojis!
“Celebrating diversity in all its many forms is integral to Apple’s values and these new options help fill a significant gap in the emoji keyboard,” Apple commented when unveiling the new designs.
Users can now send a guide dog, an ear with a hearing aid, a person in a wheelchair, a prosthetic arm, and a prosthetic leg, among other new options.
Assistive Technology (AT) is a broad term; to someone unfamiliar, it can be confusing to understand what it is and who uses it. Illustrating AT can help familiarize the devices with the uses. Emojis that feature assistive technology can help build awareness on how important AT is.
“Apple is requesting the addition of emoji to better represent individuals with disabilities. Currently, emoji provide a wide range of options, but may not represent the experiences of those with disabilities. Diversifying the options available helps fill a significant gap and provides a more inclusive experience for all.” Apple stated in their Unicode Emoji Proposal.
iPhone users can update their devices by opening their Settings app, selecting General and then Software Update before confirming the installation of iOS 13.2. The new emoji will appear in their emoji keyboard after the handset has rebooted. View all the emojis from the new launch
Not an Apple user? These emojis are also available for most major operating systems, from Microsoft to Facebook. If your device doesn’t have them now, be on the lookout in early 2020.