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This article was published on April 16, 2012

Awesome: Apple hides Michelangelo’s hand of Adam reaching for knowledge in touch patent filing


Awesome: Apple hides Michelangelo’s hand of Adam reaching for knowledge in touch patent filing

Michelangelo’s ‘The Creation of Adam‘ is probably one of the most recognizable pieces of art ever created. A representation of the Biblical scene representing the creation of the first man Adam by God, it exists as a section of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling in Rome.

One of the most iconic bits of the work is the hand of Adam, reaching out to God. It’s often seen as a representation of Adam reaching out for knowledge of his creator, or knowledge of himself.

Well, it looks like someone in Apple’s patent art department wanted to hide a bit of an easter egg inside of a 2009 filing for a touch-screen iMac. The hand of Adam, lifted right from Michelangelo, was discovered by Redditor Insightfrankfurt (he actually found it three months ago, but Reddit wasn’t ready). You can see the obvious and uncanny resemblance in the graphic below:

Clever girl Apple. Users aren’t just touching an iMac, they’re touching the repository of all human knowledge. For another instance of Apple sneaking a treat into a patent, check out this Find my iPhone patent that drops a reference to Roger Moore -era James Bond.

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