The Japanese video game developer sega has created “Emojam”, a pager aimed at boys and girls that only communicates using emojis. The company has developed the device through Link Link, its children’s technology brand.
With this new product the firm is reinventing the pager conceptor pager, popularly known as “pagers” or “pagers” – in reference to the sound they make when receiving a message – for the new era of communicationcharacterized by a strong audiovisual component, as shown by the use of emojis or stickers.
In this sense, as Sega explains, the Emojam has more than 1,100 emojis which can be sent in individual messages or in group chats of up to five people. However, these emojis are not those approved by the Unicode consortium, but rather custom emojis for the device that reflect cats, rabbits, robots, and other concepts, all with a variety of facial expressions.
Emojam also has some arcade style minigames.
In addition, it has a function that allows combine two emojis in one. This, as the company explains, will allow boys and girls to create a series of custom emojis to establish a kind of “secret code” between them and a customized communication system that will provide an element of gamification and fun.
Additionally, the device has Wi-Fi connection to facilitate communication between users in remote locations. However, as the company explains, the Emojams have connect to each other through a physical system before users can chat, a function that they say provides security and prevents the exchange of messages with strangers.
The Emojam looks similar to a Tamagotchi, so it has only three front buttons, and is a new example of the popularization of the technology with retro look which has become a trend in recent months. It is worth remembering that, along these lines, Heineken launched the “Boring Phone” phone; and that many members of Generation Z are rediscovering foldable mobile phones.
With Emojam Sega is capitalizing on this trend and expanding its market, offering products for children and that parents can trust. Concern about screen time and potentially harmful content that minors can access is growing among mothers, fathers and legal guardians.
The Emojam will start be marketed in Japan starting next December 10 at a price of 7,150 yen, that is, about 43 euros. The company has not detailed whether it has plans to expand the scope of the product, but has indicated that it will sell complementary elements that will allow customization of the appearance of Emojam, such as cases or straps; as well as content cards, which will give access to new emoticons, drawings and stickers.
