March 27, 2018

Ear Emoji

Apple wants emojis to better represent people with disabilities.

In a proposal sent to the Unicode Consortium, the non profit organisation that sets the global standard for emojis, the company is advocating for 13 new additions.

The proposed emojis include an ear with a hearing aid. Not sure if this is representative of hearing aids today though?

What do you think?

“Currently, emoji provide a wide range of options, but may not represent the experiences of those with disabilities,” Apple wrote in the proposal. “Diversifying the options available helps fill a significant gap and provides a more inclusive experience.”

The emojis must first be adopted by Unicode. After the non profit releases its guidelines, software makers such as Apple and Google design versions for their respective platforms.