Google Gmail launches new ‘Motion’ feature

Searching for a little April Fools’ Day humor? Check out Google’s annual Gmail hijinks.

This year the web giant’s hoax is “Gmail Motion,” which promises a “new way to communicate.”

By using your computer’s webcam, you can simply make gestures to check and send email. No more using that old-school mouse and keyboard!

As the accompanying video shows, licking your fingers like a stamp indicates you want to send email. Pointing a thumb over your shoulder means “reply.”

The 'Motion' technology will soon be coming to Google Docs, as demonstrated here by Beta testers.

How does it work? “Gmail Motion uses your computer’s built-in webcam and Google’s patented spatial tracking technology to detect your movements and translate them into meaningful characters and commands. Movements are designed to be simple and intuitive for people of all skill levels.”

Google has been pulling people’s legs since 2000 — previous hoaxes included posting fictitious jobs for a research center on the moon; Google Gulp, an IQ enhancing beverage; and Gmail Paper, which offered to print users emails and snail mail them for archival purposes.

Meanwhile, over in China, Google’s portal is offering teleportation.