Apple to Introduce Multicultural Emojis with iOS 8.3 beta

Apple has launched its second OS X 10.10.3 and iOS 8.3 beta updates for developers today. As part of the release, the promised multicultural emoji pack has been unveiled. The redesigned keyboard will allow a user to adjust the complexion of an emoji by tapping and holding on each character. The new skin tones are based off the Fitzpatrick scale, a numerical classification schema for human skin color which was developed by a Harvard dermatologist in 1975. Along with racial diversity, Apple’s new emoji pack will also feature same-sex couples and couples without children. Furthermore, 300 additional new characters will be available once the new iOS is released to the public this spring, including an unsurprising replacement of a traditional watch by an Apple Watch.