The publication “A Stylistic Analysis of Graphic Emoticons: Can they be Candidates for a Universal Visual Language of the Future?” for ED-Media Conference 2008 is online available.
Abstract:
This paper, describing the current popularity of graphic emoticon usage in Japanese social network services, blogs and mobile phone communication, illustrates that these graphic emoticons are now evolving into ideographic images as substitutes for words or phrases from accessory markers showing the emotional state of the writer. It will be argued that the behavior of these graphic emoticons will give us valuable insights for implementing a universal auxiliary visual language that will overcome the barrier of language differences. Possible educationproposed.
Reference:
Azuma, J.; Ebner, M. (2008) A Stylistic Analysis of Graphic Emoticons: Can they be Candidates for a Universal Visual Language of the Future?; Proceeding of the 20th World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications (ED-Media), 2008, p.973-977
Here you will find the publication, slides have been already published.