encoding - how is the sarcmark implemented? -

these people selling proprietary exclamation mark sarcasm, , without going through unicode standardisation process, proposing it's possible download mark (in format it's not clear), , use in written communications (to extent it's not clear). question being downloaded , how transmitting across network.

i'm not sure if it's sort of multilayered sarcastic joke , don't think it's nice idea on level, i'm curious if they're doing clever implement , interoperate (curious enough override reluctance add word of mouth).

• they provide image can paste document - far it's $2 piece of clip art, nothing mysterious it.
• they provide font new glyph (or character?) - presumably if going send they'd have have same font installed , message have have enough information recipient choose font viewing it?
• they claim have working sms on blackberries - how work? how glyph transmitted through network? way can think of they're transmitting unicode private use codepoints, tricky through sms network, wouldn't they?

edit: there's vote close "non programming-related" justification. i'm programmer, spend lot of time tracking down problems ancient , established characters fail transmitted across network correctly. when claims able invent character unilaterally , transmit between devices correctly , without degradation, i'm curious, wonder how 1 program it. it's programming-related - it's related programming , programming of company implemented symbol.

edit 2: basic question, raised jeremiah's answer below, knows fonts should able clarify: suffice provide font 1 new glyph in it? mean is, if you're viewing document in arial, system comes across u+e001 codepoint in document, , it's not part of active arial font, system check of installed fonts find 1 has glyph codepoint? or new glyph have somehow added every font intend use? i'm being vague word "system" - don't know if functionality implemented word processor or browser application example, or underlying font service in operating system.

found answer in blog post.

first off, mark mapped unicode code point u+e001, in private use area, , not part of unicode standard. next, in order see sarcmark glyph, need special font contains mark @ u+e001.

below sarcmark. looks or whether appears @ dependent on fonts have installed, , on not being filtered out stackoverflow. in order sarcmark appear, you'll need proprietary font installed.

the sarcmark between brackets: []

i did google search character , found nothing. twitter search find some uses of out in wild, , uses of codepoint don't seem intended sarcmarks. in fact, u+e001 used in softbank variant of emoji (which, based on usage on twitter, seems used beyond japanese softbank network) "boy" or "boy's head" character (see here). there isn't done when using private use codepoints - if twitters, "[u+e001] terrific movie", either mean "boy, terrific movie", or "my next statement sarcastic: terrific movie", works ok either interpretation.

to send through sms, ucs2 have used rather 7- or 8-bit sms encoding.

for comparison, both in terms of idea , implementation, have @ project making emoji part of unicode. if have gmail account, can try sending message below. if of various parts work (cut , paste, databases, email infrastructure, browsers), gmail display emoji smirking face. u+fe343 private use area codepoint glyph being parked until official codepoint assigned it, , gmail substitutes image character when displays it.

emoji smirking face: u+fe343, utf8 f3be8d83 [󾍃]

the private use area codepoint + special font technique sufficient make symbol transmittable through networks , storable in files , databases (most of time), , viewable users. technical thing add whole system work make symbol inputtable, presumably involves installing keyboard shortcuts on whatever platforms people want use. on top of technical infrastructure, getting system work question of marketing, giving symbol currency, , making sarcasm club 1 people want join. given constraints, it's nice solution used other things, example allow prince fans communicate each other.