Idea 007 - Emoji Macro Pad Keyboard

This post is part of the 100 project ideas project. #The100DayProject. I am looking for feedback. Comment below or DM me via social media Instagram, Twitter.

One Line Pitch

A macro pad keyboard with most commonly used Emoji as key caps for quick access when you want to respond to a message with an iconography.

Description

The macro pad could be any size with any number of keys but I found a 4x4 (16 keys) macro pad would work the best.

The macro pad can be application aware by using AutoHotKey. This would allow posts to have reactions when in Slack or Discord, and type the emoji while in any text application like email.

A full set of Emoji keycaps would be prohibitively expensive to ship. Instead I would let people select the keycaps that they want for the Emoji keyboard with some common packs. Like top 16, etc…

To create the key caps using dye sublimation techniques descriped in this video, or from this one from Linus Tech Tips.

According to Emojipedia stats the 16 most popular Emoji are; ❤️ Red Heart, 🫶 Heart Hands, 😊 Smiling Face with Smiling Eyes, 🔥 Fire, ✨ Sparkles, 💀 Skull 😂 Face with Tears of Joy,, 🥹 Face Holding Back Tears, 👍 Thumbs Up, ✅ Check Mark Button, 🎉 Party Popper, ⭐ Star, 🥰 Smiling Face with Hearts, 😍 Smiling Face with Heart-Eyes, 😉 Winking Face, 💪 Flexed Biceps

I am sure that everyone has their own top 16 emoji that they use. Personally mine would be; 👍 Thumbs Up, ✅ Check Mark Button, ⭐ Star, 🎉 Party Popper, ❤️ Red Heart, 😍 Smiling Face with Heart-Eyes, 😊 Smiling Face with Smiling Eyes, 😉 Winking Face, 😭 Loudly Crying Face, 🤮 Face Vomiting, 💩 Pile of Poo, 💯 Hundred Points, 🔥 Fire, 💦 Sweat Droplets, 💪 Flexed Biceps, 🍆 Eggplant

Prior art

What has already been done in this field, where can I draw ideas from,

• Emoji Backlit Keycap Set - 61 keys with 6.25 Layout - Full keyboard set of 61 keys. You cannot select the ones that you want to use, but its pretty good selection.
• An Emoji Keyboard Cover for Apple MacBooks and Apple Wireless Keyboards - Plastic mat that goes over top of your MacBooks keyboard. The Emoji are full color but are sized too small and are ugly.
• Emoji macropad for Discord - Not the standard emoji but instead little pads with clear tops that you can add your own images into

Market

Emoji nerds, keyboard nerds, people that spend far too much time chatting, uWu Girls