Google has continued its tradition of April Fools’ jokes, which this year includes a documentary on the life of an ‘autocompleter’, a motion controlled Gmail system and a look back at the top YouTube viral videos of 1911.
The batch of spoof videos has become something of a custom for the search engine giant, with each April Fool’s day bringing ever-more elaborate jokes (while promoting their latest services at the same time).
The life of an autocompleter
If you search with Google Instant turned on, you’ll see a new link at the bottom of the search suggestions. Google is hiring Autocompleters.
That link leads to a job description with this video introducing “Michael Taylor,” who started out as a spellchecker who typed the “Did you mean?” suggestions and then got a promotion to Autocompleter.
Gmail Motion
Meanwhile, peaople logging onto gmail today will see a link to ‘Gmail Motion’. Google has launched a beta of something called Google motion –Essentially, something that will understand your gestures using the web camera and will carry out commands on your email. Here is what Google has to say about Google Motion.
The mouse and keyboard were invented before the Internet even existed. Since then, countless technological advancements have allowed for much more efficient human computer interaction. Why then do we continue to use out-dated technology? Introducing Gmail Motion — now you can control Gmail with your body.
YouTube celebrates ‘100th anniversary’
The video-sharing site seems to have warped back in time, a century ago to be exact. Those who log in today are greeted by videos going viral such as “The Irksome Citrus,” “Buggy Intruder,” “Swing Flummox,” “Horse & Buggy Crash,” and “Flugelhorn Feline.”
These are all on YouTube’s homepage, all part of the celebration for YouTube’s “100th birthday”.
