random | storytelling nomad

It appears that one of the most searched terms on Google today, was Google itself; the Google Logo to be precise. As the most popular search engine in the world, it obviously generates A LOT of traffic each day, but I find it interesting when the traffic is actually seeking information on the very search engine it uses to find the information. So what’s all the fuss about today?

Google Logo on the 9th June 2011

With the idea of recognising notable events and people across the world, Google occasionally updates its logo from the original muticoloured design we’ve come to know and love, and redesigns it to represent the occasion or person it celebrates. They call them Google Doodles, and today we celebrate the 96th Birthday of musician Les Paul, an American jazz and country guitarist and a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar, with an interactive Doodle made up of the strings of a guitar that even allow you to play and record a 30 second track.

To be honest, I’ve always been impressed with Google and their good spirited approach to pretty much anything. I often see news articles claiming it to be the best place to work, with photos of their offices showing snooker tables, jungle gyms, and swimming pools…like anyone needed to feel any more depressed about their average day job? And they throw that in our faces! Let’s face it, they market themselves really well, and yet never seem to fall into ideas of grandeur with the actual search engine side of things, keeping the site clean and tidy with very few whiz bang gadgets to crowd a page that people appreciate for its simplicity. Their Google Doodles are their little way of unobtrusively enjoying themselves with the site, entertaining us, the users, and reminding us that there are actual, live, human people behind the engine that knows all the answers.

I personally use Google every day, several times a day…err…several times an hour? I admit to the addiction of needing to be always ‘connected’. If someone asks me a question I don’t know the answer to, I ask Google. If I’m having a problem with my phone, I ask Google. If I’m bored, I ask Google to entertain me. It’s like all the brains in the world have combined, and resulted in Google. So, Google is God. We clear?

Anyway, I thought I might showcase some of my favourite Google Doodles from over the years. You can check out many more here. Anyone else noticed any cool Google Doodles sneaking around?