I've Had Enough of Texting. Instead, I Prefer Utilizing Sega's 'Emojam' Pagers That Employ Only Emojis
I used to be one of those arrogant teenagers who loathed the surge of emojis. Why should we abandon the English language for a tiny, yellow, frowning face? Now, however, it seems like we'll never truly connect despite sharing a common tongue, and I can't help but ponder what it would be like to completely ditch my phone for Sega's upcoming "Emojam" "dumb phone," which can only send emojis to a few friends at a time.
The so-called "dumb phone" movement already has its followers, and there are numerous affordable options, such as Barbie-branded flip phones or refurbished Nokias, to help you disconnect from your social media addiction. These devices take things a step further. According to a press release (translated mechanically), Sega claims this device is attempting to resurrect the "pager culture" of the 1990s.
As a late millennial, I was too young to experience the "culture" of pagerdom. However, this device doesn't transmit text or numbers but sends up to 1,100 "original" emojis over WiFi. You can sequence up to 10 emojis to send to other Emojam users, which Sega likens to a secret code between friends. My personal secret code when texting friends typically consists of repeatedly using the "😒" emoji.
It's essential to note that the emojis available are not the ones typically seen in the West by the Unicode Consortium, which releases new emojis annually. Sega's images include Hello Kitty, of course, along with other characters I couldn't possibly name. According to Sega, there's even an "emoji lab" feature where you can merge two emojis into one. These emojis in a row are supposed to form a sort of "puzzle" where friends attempt to guess your meaning. You can see it clearly on Emojam's Amazon page, where hearts and arrows interconnect random character images to form a message.
The device is associated with Sega's Japanese-based children's brand LinkLink, so it's clear who the target audience is for these devices. You can't connect with random people on the internet; instead, you have to physically touch thedevices together to pair them with friends.
© Image: Sega
Once upon a time, Japan indeed cherished its pagers. The Japanese language was more easily represented in short texts or even numerical values than English, making it an efficient means of mass communication. Unfortunately, the country's last remaining pager services ceased operations in 2018.
The devices cost 7,150 yen, or about $46. They are supposed to include additional cases and beaded straps. Unfortunately, they're only available in Japan, and an English translation is unlikely to be included. However, if you manage to import them, you probably won't need much further setup as all communication will occur via emojis. The devices are expected to arrive Dec. 10.
It remains to be seen if Sega will ever create a version specifically for the U.S. If the longtime Japanese game manufacturer is smart, they'd allow me to send "🍺" emojis to my friends. I feel like I would utilize that emoji frequently to help me get through the next few years.
The 'Emojam' device, with its limited emoji functionality, aligns with the growing interest in disconnecting from digital platforms, as demonstrated by the popularity of 'Barbie-branded flip phones' and refurbished Nokias. In the future, technologies like this could potentially revolutionize our means of communication, moving beyond the conventional Unicode Consortium emojis.
As a futuristic twist, Sega's 'Emojam' device includes an 'emoji lab' feature, enabling users to merge two emojis into one, creating a unique form of digital expression. This innovative technology, currently exclusive to Japan, highlights the potential of tech-driven communication evolutions in the upcoming decades.
