Google Terminal Easter Egg
👇 Scroll down to find the Easter egg
Quick Facts
A retro-styled, interactive terminal interface that simulates a 1980s-era Bulletin Board System (BBS) for accessing Google Search.
N. Landsteiner (www.masswerk.at)
2012
Available on elgooG
Interact with the Easter Egg
Creation Background
Concept Overview
Before the widespread adoption of the graphical World Wide Web, Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs) were a popular way to connect and share information online. Users would dial in via modem to a central server, where they could access message boards, download files, and interact with other users in a text-based environment. BBSs were a cornerstone of early online communities.
The Google Terminal Easter Egg harkens back to this era, providing a nostalgic and interactive experience reminiscent of using a vintage computer terminal.
Inspiration and Development
The Google Terminal Easter Egg was created by N. Landsteiner of mass:werk – media environments (www.masswerk.at). The original version, known as "Google BBS Terminal," was launched in 2012. The inspiration came from a desire to recreate the look and feel of accessing online services in the 1980s, specifically the experience of connecting to a BBS.
This website hosts this impressive work, providing users with a unique way to interact with Google Search. It's a tribute to the early days of the internet and the ingenuity of developers like N. Landsteiner who continue to keep this history alive.
The Easter Egg Experience
Main Features
The Google Terminal Easter Egg presents a visually authentic representation of a vintage computer terminal, complete with a green monochrome display, flickering text, and simulated modem connection sounds. The interface mimics a BBS, allowing users to interact with Google Search through text commands.
The experience is not just visual; it's also interactive. Users can type in search queries, and the results are displayed in the terminal window, mimicking the way information would have been presented on a BBS.
It supports various "commands" and even presents realistic connection delays, further enhancing the retro feel.
How It Works
Interacting with the Google Terminal Easter Egg is like stepping back in time to the early days of online connectivity.
Steps to Interact with the Easter Egg
- Click on the button at the top of this page.
- You'll be greeted with a simulated modem connection sequence, complete with sounds and visual effects.
- Once "connected," you'll see a welcome message and a prompt to enter a search query.
- Type your search term and press Enter.
- The search results will be displayed in the terminal window, formatted in a retro style.
- You can then continue to enter additional search queries or explore other "commands."
The Google Terminal Easter Egg is a meticulously crafted piece of web development, showcasing N. Landsteiner's attention to detail and understanding of vintage computing. The original version can be found at [https://www.masswerk.at/googleBBS/](https://www.masswerk.at/googleBBS/), and it has received significant online attention, including coverage from Business Insider ([https://www.businessinsider.com/google-2012-4](https://www.businessinsider.com/google-2012-4)).
This Easter egg serves as a reminder of how far the internet has come, while also celebrating the ingenuity and creativity of early online pioneers.
Conclusion
The Google Terminal Easter Egg is a remarkable example of how a seemingly simple concept can be transformed into a captivating and nostalgic experience. It's a tribute to the early days of the internet and a testament to the skill of its creator, N. Landsteiner. Although it's presented on this website as an unofficial Easter egg, its design and execution perfectly capture the spirit of Google's own hidden surprises: offering a unique, interactive, and memorable experience that celebrates the history of technology.
We encourage you to explore the other Easter eggs on elgoog.im. Each one offers a different perspective on the evolution of the internet and the enduring power of creative web development.