A new study finds that we interpret emoji in vastly different ways—and when it comes to design, Microsoft is the biggest offender.
On one hand, I see complete euphoria. This guy has just won the lottery, or he’s laughing to the point where he can no longer breathe. On the other hand, I see pain. Guantanamo-level pain. The type of pain that accompanies a kidney removed without anesthesia.
This is Microsoft’s version of the “smiling face with open mouth and tightly closed eyes” emoji. And according to a new study spotted by Boing Boing and published by PhD students in the University of Minnesota GroupLens lab, it’s the most wildly interpreted emoji there is. On a 10-point scale, in which subjects ranked it on a scale of negative to positive feeling, it had a 4.4 point spread. About half of people saw it as positive, and the other half, negative.
And it just goes to show—with apologies to my fellow millennials—that using emoji as shorthand to explain your emotions can be very tricky business. It’s part of an even bigger problem that the researchers call “emoji font diversity,” and researchers at GroupLens, which focuses on the study of technologies like online communities and mobile platforms, wanted to learn not only how differently we interpret the same emoji, but how emoji texted from iPhone to Android to Windows Phone can have their meaning changed through this very literal game of telephone.
[vc_btn title=”More on confusing emoji” style=”outline” color=”primary” size=”lg” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fastcodesign.com%2F3058832%2Fthe-worlds-most-confusing-emoji-according-to-science|title:More%20on%20confusing%20emoji|target:%20_blank”]
Video from Buzz60/Inform.com – Emoji are part of the way we communicate these days but as Gillian Pensavalle (@GillianWithaG) explains, when people are using different platforms things can get confusing.
[vc_message message_box_style=”3d” message_box_color=”turquoise”]
By MARK WILSON, Fastcodesign, SouthFloridaReporter.com, April 13, 2016
[/vc_message]Disclaimer
The information contained in South Florida Reporter is for general information purposes only.
The South Florida Reporter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the Service.
In no event shall the South Florida Reporter be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the Service or the contents of the Service. The Company reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents of the Service at any time without prior notice.
The Company does not warrant that the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components
