Like them or not, emotion icons, smileys or smilies are useful to show your mood when you're not talking face to face.

'Smiley' faces have been about for years. The first smileys didn't even have any eyes. They were just a big yellow disk with a smile. You pinned the grin on your lapel, which was supposed to cheer people up as you walked along the street.

Add a couple of dots and there's the smiley we know today. The circle is traditionally yellow so can stand for the sun. Maybe another reason why the symbol is so popular.

It's easy enough to make one of these symbols yourself. Grab a bit of paper. Draw a circle. ...Er, well then, draw a potato. Or trace round a coin. Now add two dots and a smile, then widen the grin. Surprise, surprise, the face looks even more pleased.

Now black those eyes in. Make them bigger and darker.

The pupils of our eyes dilate when we see something we like. Bigger eyes increase the sensation of gratification.

Phew! Spooky isn't it? That smiley's getting positively steamy.

..But wait a minute.

Take a look in the mirror and give yourself a false smile. Maybe you'll notice you're only moving the lower part of your face. Your eyes hardly change at all.

In contrast, think of how someone looks when they're genuinely delighted. Their eyes almost disappear - in fact they're so bunched up that they crease around the corners.

You can't 'do' a genuine smile in the mirror. It's unconsciously controlled. You may crease up your eyes, but you can't fake the way your eyebrows move of their own accord.

It's easier to improve an emoticon on a bit of paper. Just draw another face with a couple of upturned crescents for the eyes.

Can you go even better? You can if you break a rule. Who says all smileys have to be circles? This time draw a wide oval, (or oval potato) and add all the features so far.

Your symbol may not look like the sun any more - but it's over the moon!