Don't Panic! Google honors scifi humorist Douglas Adams

Google on Monday paid homage to British writer and humorist Douglas Noel Adams on his 61st birth anniversary with an interactive Doodle.

 

On March 11, visitors to Google's homepage (www.google.com) were greeted with a doodle that appeared to reference his most famous opus, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." In place of the usual Google logo is what seems to be the main control console of the Heart of Gold, a spaceship that runs on "improbability" and which is the protagonists' main mode of transport. Spelling out the word "Google" are various items, strewn across the console, that would be familiar to fans of the books: a hand towel on the far right, and even a copy of the eponymous Guide in the foreground. Also, clicking on the various items reveals some fun Easter eggs for keen observers. Even Marvin the Paranoid Android and the Babel fish —which Google also happened to adopt as the name of its automated translation service— make cameo appearances.

 

Clicking on the spyglass icon at the rightmost side of the doodle will take the visitor to a Google Search Results page for "Douglas Adams."

 

Adams was born on March 11, 1952 and is best known as the author of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," which started as a BBC radio comedy in 1978.

 

The comedy eventually developed into books, a television series, stage plays, and even a feature film.

 

Adams also advocated the environment and conservation.

 

He died on May 11, 2001 at age 49. — TJD, GMA News