Emoji: The Language of the Future | Tracey Pickett | TEDxGreenville

Summary

This script explores the evolution of human communication, highlighting the pivotal role of emojis in the digital age. It argues that emojis, despite initial skepticism, have become a significant advancement, effectively bridging the emotional gap in text-based communication. The speaker discusses the historical context of communication, the impact of technology, and the psychological studies that show emojis activate similar brain regions as real human faces, influencing our moods and enhancing our ability to convey emotions digitally. The script concludes by encouraging viewers to embrace emojis as a legitimate form of expression and a language of the future.

Takeaways

• 📝 Emojis are considered a significant advancement in human communication, adding emotional context to digital messages.
• 🗣️ The evolution of human communication includes verbal language, pictographs, the printing press, and computer-mediated communication.
• 📜 Pictographs marked the beginning of written language, but were limited by their immobility on stone.
• 📰 The invention of the printing press and paper allowed for the transportation of messages without physical presence.
• 💻 Computer-mediated communication revolutionized the way we communicate, but it lacked the emotional aspect of face-to-face interactions.
• 🧐 Albert Mehrabian's study revealed that only 7% of effective communication is verbal, with 38% vocal and 55% nonverbal.
• 📈 Text messaging has become the dominant form of communication for Americans under 50, surpassing phone conversations.
• 😕 The difficulty of conveying emotions through text can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations.
• 📱 Technologies like FaceTime, Google Hangouts, and Apple's digital touch features attempt to restore social intimacy to communication.
• 😀 Emojis originated in the 1990s in Japan as a way to add simplistic cartoon images to the paging interface, and have since become a global phenomenon.
• 🧠 Research shows that emojis are processed by the brain as emotional communication, similar to facial expressions, and can influence our mood.
• 🌐 The future of emoji communication includes diversity and inclusion, allowing for a wider range of emotional and cultural expressions.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is the significance of emojis in modern communication and their role as an advancement in human communication.

Why are emojis considered a significant advancement in human communication?

Emojis are considered a significant advancement because they help restore social intimacy and emotions to digital communication, which often lacks the emotional depth of face-to-face interactions.

What is the historical context provided for the evolution of human communication?

The historical context includes the development of verbal language, the invention of pictographs, the creation of the printing press and paper, and the advent of computer-mediated communications.

What is the 'third revolution' in communication mentioned in the script?

The 'third revolution' in communication is the invention of computer-mediated communications, which allows people to communicate virtually from anywhere using computers, phones, or mobile devices.

According to Albert Mehrabian's study, what percentage of effective communication is nonverbal?

According to Albert Mehrabian's study, 55% of effective communication is nonverbal, which includes body language.

What problem does the script identify with computer-mediated communication?

The script identifies the problem that computer-mediated communication often lacks the emotional aspect present in face-to-face communication, which can lead to misunderstandings or difficulty in conveying emotions.

What is the percentage of Americans who were using emojis as of 2015?

As of 2015, 74% of Americans were using emojis, sending an average of 96 emojis and stickers per day.

What does the study published in the Journal of Social Neuroscience suggest about our brain's response to emojis?

The study suggests that when we look at a smiley face emoji, the same parts of our brain are activated as when we look at a real human face, indicating that our brains process emojis as emotional communication.

What is the role of emojis in filling the gap left by facial expressions in digital communication?

Emojis fill the gap left by facial expressions by providing a visual representation of emotions that can be easily understood and processed by the brain, thus enhancing emotional communication in digital messages.

What is the purpose of the 'iicons' mentioned in the script?

The purpose of 'iicons' is to restore social intimacy and fun personality to everyday communications, offering a diverse and inclusive range of emojis that reflect different social and cultural references.

What is the final takeaway message from the speaker about emojis?

The final takeaway message is to embrace and learn to express oneself through emojis, recognizing them as an integral part of the language of the future and a tool for more effective communication.