It is estimated that for every 10 internet users, 9 visit Google at least once a day. Definitely, Google today is much more than a common search engine; it is a complete solutions hub that is absolutely essential in our daily lives. An example of this is our own behavior, which has changed according to the solutions that Google provides. Who has never searched for the meaning of a word on Google, performed a calculation, or even typed a phone number in hopes of getting some result?
This week, I will talk about some tricks and fun features that Google hides, as well as some very useful resources that can be accessed directly from the Google search bar.
Known as Easter Eggs, this is the name given to the playful tricks and secrets intentionally hidden in programs or other tools. Google has a few, see below:
• Do a Barrel Roll: Go to Google and type “do a barrel roll”. The Google screen will do a 360-degree spin and stop again.
• Google Torto: Type “Askew” or “Tilt” and click on “Search”. Then just tilt your head a little to read everything.
• Google Gravity: Type Google Gravity and click on the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button, and you will be taken to an online experiment where the entire Google screen collapses on your screen.
• Snake Game on YouTube: Few people know, but if your connection is very slow, pressing the up, down, or side arrow keys while loading a video on YouTube will turn the loading status into the famous Snake game.
• Google Pacman: If you type “Google Pacman” in the address bar and click on “I’m Feeling Lucky” or click on the first available link, you can play the famous Pacman. This Doodle was displayed on Pacman’s anniversary and due to its success, it was immortalized at this link.
Google offers a series of tools directly in its search bar; there are various resources that you can quickly use straight from the Google page without needing to access another site. Here are some of them:
• Weather Forecast: You can simplify your search for the weather forecast by typing in Google ‘Weather CITYNAME’ and getting immediate results for the temperature, as well as the forecast for the week.
• Calculator: Google has a powerful calculator that processes various types of calculations from the simplest, like addition, to the more complex, like equations. (Example: (5*9)+3=)
• Movie Showtimes: To find reviews and showtimes for movies near you, type “movies” or the name of a current movie in the Google search box. If your location has already been saved from a previous search, the first search result will show showtimes for nearby theaters that are showing the chosen movie. (Example: Movie São Paulo)
• Unit Converter: You can use Google to convert different units of measurement for height, weight, and mass, among others. Just enter the desired conversion in the search box, and Google does the rest. (Example: 10.5 cm to inches).
• Dictionary and Word Definition: To see the definition of a word or phrase, type the word “define”, put a space, and then the desired word. To get a list with different definitions from various online sources, type “define:” followed by a word or phrase. The results will define the entire phrase.
• Currency Converter: To use the currency converter, just enter the conversion you would like to make in the search box, and Google provides the answer directly on the results page. (Example: 200 dollars to reais)
• Fill in the Blank: Sometimes, the best way to ask a question is to let Google “fill in the blank” by adding an asterisk (*) as part of the sentence or question you want to ask in the Google search box. (Example: Isaac Newton discovered*)
It is amazing to see how Google solidifies its name, creating daily solutions and tools that change behavior and propose a new relationship between the user and the internet. I confess that I am a frequent user of the site, both for searching and for using corporate tools. And believe me, the most powerful brand in the world, besides many innovations, has the power to influence and set trends that go far beyond what a user can imagine.
By Cleiton Lima from the site: www.igospel.org.br