At Sign - in Culture

In Culture

• The Museum of Modern Art admitted the at sign to its architecture and design collection.
• Many internet cafes use the spelling "c@fe" to suggest their internet theme.
• The British chain of bars called B@1 (beatone) uses the symbol in its name to denote the word "bar" and suggest modernity.
• There is a character named @ in the book Syrup by Max Barry.
• In roguelikes with ASCII graphics, the at sign is traditionally used as the player character.
• Author Philip Pullman added the category of "things that were invented for one purpose, but are used for another" to his "Museum of Curiosity" collection with the @ as an example.
• John Lloyd, pledged on QI series A DVD to support widespread use of the term "Astatine" to refer to the symbol. This name was chosen as the chemical element astatine has the chemical symbol "At".
• A Chinese couple tried to name their son @—pronouncing it "ai ta" or "love him"—according to the Chinese State Language Commission.