Science Fiction Author, Jules Verne Honored in Google Doodle on 183rd Birthday

Today's Google Doodle is in reference to French science fiction author Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". Fitting, as today would have been his 183rd birthday.

Author of other well known novels, "a Journey to the Center of the Earth" and "Around the World in 80 Days", Verne is regarded as one of the fathers of science fiction.

Born in 1828, long before the technological marvels of our time, Verne wrote about technologies such as space flight, airplanes, and submarines.

(via theGuardian, image from Wikipedia)

Google Doodle: Pac-Man Logo

Speaking of awesome Google Doodles / logos. I hadn't seen this one back in May but check out the awesome Pacman Logo that Google made. They still have it up due to it's immense popularity. Google created the Doodle for the 30th anniversary of Pacman, back in May 2010.

Anyway, check out the page. It's interactive! Insert a coin and remember the 80's in all it's glory!

 

PACMAN FACTS:

Pacman mania grew so large that it had an animated television series (Pac-man: the Animated Series, 1982-1983) and a top ten hit single (by Buckner & Garcia, peaked at #9 in March of 1982)!

When Pac-Man was released, it created a new game genre that appealed to both genders, deviating from the videogame norms of Space Invaders, Asteroid or Pong.

Pac-Man was based off a Japanese folk hero named "Paku" who was known for his appetite. The original Japanese name for it was "Puck Man".

The game was only moderately successful in Japan. Upon release in the United States in 1980 however, the game took off, and took the title of "Best Selling Arcade Game" from then title-holder "Asteroids".

Pac-Man was the first videogame to feature power-ups and cut scenes.

Weird Al Yankovic titled a song "Pac-Man" in a parody of the Beatles "Tax-Man".

Hip-hop Emcee L'il Flip sampled sound from the game in his single "Game Over", which reached the top-20. Namco eventually sued Sony Music regarding this.

Billy Mitchell was the first person to achieve a perfect play score in July of 1999 after playing for 6 hours. He beats his score again though, in 2009, when he achieved the perfect play score in only 3hrs, 40m.

Today's Google Doodle Honors Thomas Edison

American scientist and businessman, Thomas Alva Edison was born February 11, 1847. Edison created many inventions, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. Edison held 1,093 US patents in his name, as well as elsewhere in the world. He also invented a stock ticker, a mechanical vote recorder, a battery for an electric car, electrical power, recorded music and motion pictures.

 

"Google’s closeups intrude on the art experience" Boston.com

I think the writer, Sebastien Smee, needed a different angle on the Google Art Project, and so chose to essentially diss Google, calling the project "underwhelming".

I'm not sure what Mr. Smee was hoping for. You are viewing the art on a small monitor (in comparison to a large room).

Personally, I feel that the Google Art project is outstanding, as in it stands out from anything else previously done. Is it perfect and complete? No.

The author brings up some valid points IF you think the Google Art Project is trying to give people a better way to view art.

I guess it is important to have the right viewpoint upon entering the website. Will this be exactly like going to a museum? Uhm, no. Will the exceptionally inventive and progressive technology that Google uses capture the essence of the art on the site? Uhm, no.

Check out the comments, to see how others viewed the article.

Check out the Google Art Project.

(via Boston.com)