Smiley

A smiley is a stylized representation of a smiling face, commonly represented as a yellow circle with two black dots representing eyes and a black arc representing a mouth. The smiley has become a universal symbol of happiness and is widely used in digital communication to convey positive emotions.

History

The concept of the smiley face can be traced back to the 1960s. The first known use of a smiley face was by Harvey Ball, an American graphic artist, who created the iconic yellow and black smiley face in 1963. Ball was commissioned by an insurance company to create a symbol that would boost employee morale. The design was simple yet effective, consisting of a yellow circle, two black dots for eyes, and a black arc for a mouth.

In the 1970s, the smiley face gained popularity in popular culture, particularly in the United States. It was used in various forms of media and merchandise, becoming a symbol of the counterculture movement. The smiley face was further popularized by the "Have a Nice Day" slogan, which often accompanied the image.

Digital Evolution

With the advent of digital communication, the smiley face evolved into the emoticon and later the emoji. In the early days of the internet, users began using text-based representations of smiley faces, such as ":-)" to convey emotions in emails and online chats. These text-based emoticons were the precursors to the graphical emojis we use today.

In 1999, Shigetaka Kurita created the first set of 176 emojis for a Japanese mobile phone operator. These included a variety of facial expressions, including the smiley face. Emojis have since become an integral part of digital communication, allowing users to express a wide range of emotions and ideas quickly and effectively.

Cultural Impact

The smiley face has had a significant impact on popular culture and communication. It is recognized worldwide as a symbol of happiness and positivity. The smiley face has been used in advertising, fashion, and art, often as a symbol of optimism and goodwill.

In digital communication, smileys and emojis have transformed the way people express emotions. They provide a visual shorthand that can convey complex emotions and ideas in a simple and universally understood way. This has made them an essential tool in modern communication, bridging language barriers and enhancing the emotional tone of messages.

Legal and Trademark Issues

The smiley face has been the subject of various legal and trademark disputes. In 1971, French journalist Franklin Loufrani registered the smiley face as a trademark in France and later in other countries. Loufrani's company, SmileyWorld, has since licensed the smiley face for use in various products and services.

The trademarking of the smiley face has led to legal battles over its use, particularly in the context of digital communication and merchandising. Despite these disputes, the smiley face remains a widely used and recognized symbol.

Also see

• Emoticon
• Emoji
• Harvey Ball
• Shigetaka Kurita
• Digital communication

Emoticons[1] Official Unicode Consortium code chart (PDF)

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Notes 1.^ As of Unicode version 16.0