The author delves into the history of emoji, exploring vintage Japanese drawing devices with built-in memo functions. The Sharp PI-4000 from 1994 surprisingly features recognizable emoji, predating the more well-known sets from SoftBank in 1997 and NTT DoCoMo in 1999. Further research uncovers emoji on the NEC PI-ET1 in 1991 and the Sharp WD-A521 word processor from 1990. The timeline of emoji history is questioned, highlighting earlier appearances on devices like pagers in 1995. The author’s meticulous recreation of these vintage emoji sets prompts a reconsideration of the origins of emoji, challenging the conventional narrative. 🧐
https://blog.gingerbeardman.com/2024/05/10/emoji-history-the-missing-years/