These images provided by Apple shows new emoji released by Apple. (Apple via AP)
Apple and Google are rolling out dozens of new emoji that of course include cute critters, but also expand the number of images of human diversity.
The announcement coincides with Wednesday's World Emoji Day.
Apple Inc. is releasing new variants of its holding hands emoji that allow people to pick any combination of skin tone and gender, 75 possible combinations in all. There are also wheelchairs, prosthetic arms and legs, as well as a new guide dog and an ear with a hearing aid.
And then there’s the sloth, the flamingo, the skunk, the orangutan, as well as a new yawning emoji.
New emoji routinely pop up every year. Earlier this year the Unicode Consortium approved 71 new variations of emoji for couples of color.
Apple’s new emoji will be available in the fall with a free software update for the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. Google said its emoji will be released with Android Q later this year.
Related stories:
5 Tips for Using Emoji at the Office
Dese, Dose and Dibs: the Midwest’s Weird Word World
Emoji, -ism and Identity: The 2015 Words of the Year
