Easter Eggs, but not as we know them
I’m just about to break for Easter so naturally my thoughts are turning to eggs 🐣 And who doesn’t love an Easter egg? I know I do. But I’m not exclusively partial to the chocolate variety.
In gaming and computer programming, there’s another kind… an Easter Egg in this context is a hidden surprise added by the designer/developer which lies in wait to be discovered by the unsuspecting user. They can take many forms: from hidden functionality to surprise discount codes to stupid things purely intended to raise a wry smile.
They’re usually revealed by triggering a disguised switch or accidentally entering an improbable sequence of keystrokes. Steve Jobs may have banned them from being added to Apple products while he was in charge, but I must have more Easter spirit than he did… here are three of my favourite non-chocolate eggs to try and find yourself:
Friends Characters
Try Googling your favourite Friends character. Notice anything unusual in the results? What are those little illustrations for? Try clicking one with your speakers on and see what happens!
Konami Code
This is a sequence of keystrokes, famed in geeky circles which, when entered into certain websites will trigger an Easter egg. The sequence is:
UP UP DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT B A
(⬆️ ⬆️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬅️ ➡️ ⬅️ ➡️ B A)
It’s not just found on websites though. Try saying it out loud to your Alexa or Siri.
Read more about the history of Konami Code here.
Do a Barrel Roll
Maybe the best one? Type this into Google and see what happens!
Hope you enjoy finding these delicious Easter treats, and if you have a favourite, please feel free to let me know with a comment. Happy Easter! 🍳😉
