Me and My Memoji

 A few years ago, Apple launched a new feature for its iPhones called a Memoji.  It allowed users to create an image based on their own appearance.  That image could then be used in text messages, either on its own as a basis for an emoji image or as an animated feature to add an extra element to a message.  Since I didn't own an iPhone, or even a computer, at the time, I paid little attention to the new feature.  Fast forward to last year.  Facebook added a similar feature to its mobile app.  They called it an "avatar."  It allows a similar degree of customization, as well as the possibilities to add the image to various types of posts.  One could even argue that is had a greater range of possibilities, as Facebook allows it to be used in more ways.  Unfortunately, the feature has yet to be added to the standard Facebook account, only the mobile app.  I was again disappointed as I saw the feature spreading across my feeds.  It has since stopped being so obvious, but I still missed out on the new craze/. Then, last month, my mother received an iPhone as part of her participation on a commission.  She isn't sure why she was given one.  Even I can't see why a commissioner would need to be contacted in an emergency, but why quibble.  Anyway, she wanted me to help her learn the basics of using it, even though I have never owned a smart phone before.  I downloaded the free online manual to get the basics.  I even found some current books at the library for her to look at.  She made me read them instead, and she has yet to really read any of them.  Then, I got a really weird idea, after she sent out her first text message.  I could use her phone to text my computer, and I would include my own Memoji as part of it.  I wasn't sure how it would work, but it at least gave me an opportunity to help her.  Creating my Memoji wasn't that hard.  My first attempt on the phone wasn't too bad.  I then checked to see how I could receive a message on my computer.  No one has ever texted me, and I have no one really to text either.  That's when I noticed that my message system had an icon like the phone's.  My Mac had the same feature to create a Memoji now!  It must have been part of a system upgrade.  Not sure which one, as I never bothered checking out features that I had little use for.  Fortunately, Apple is usually consistent with its features across it various devices now.  If you are familiar with an app on one, it is about the same on another device.  I immediately started fiddling around with the feature.  The good news is that I was right about the feature being functionally the same.  The bad news was that the feature wasn't exactly the same.  On the iPhone, the Memoji menu takes up the entire bottom of the screen, with the Memoji image taking up the upper portion.  On the Mac, the image takes up about a three inch square, even when the message app takes up the entire screen.  The menu is a little less then an inch high, but the same width as the image.  I couldn't really get to the same options.  Still, I made my first Memoji and took a screenshot of it.  Here it is.  I think it was an okay match, but I can't be sure it was a close match to my try on the iPhone.  I then went back to the phone, and I made notes about exactly which features I added to my Memoji, so I could make sure it was a close to the same as possible.  The second picture, which is a sticker version of my Memoji.  I tried to change the color of the shirt, but I can't figure out how yet.  Still, I now have my own Memoji.  Not sure where and how I'll be using it, but it exists.  I will change it a little, once I get a better hang on the features, but I have one.