Finding Stuff II
Pinpoint Specific with Search Engines
In the name of convenience, Internet and web developers found a way to find what you were looking for by just typing one word.
What are Search Engines?
 Search Engines are webforms which search all of the world wide web by keyword. You simply type your keywords in the text box provided, click the search button, and many related webpages will be listed automatically by the search engine.
Why use Internet Search Engines?
Search engines are most valuable in three instances:
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If we need a single bit of pinpoint-specific information on a topic we are familiar with.
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If we are looking for an unique, rare, or un-categorized topic.
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If we need the latest, newly published information.
How do Search Engines work?
Each search engine searches the world wide web in a unique way. Some search engines look at keywords provided by webpage authors to describe their web page. Some search engines scan every word on every page. Some search engines maintain a tremendous database, and provide listings of the Internet's most popular web pages for a given topic. Some search engines search the results of up to fifteen other search engines, and report the most common and frequently listed web pages from each.
What are some disadvantages of Search Engines?
One look at the results list of any net search, and you'll understand why search engines sometimes create more headaches than solutions. Because the engines search for keyword and not content, many unrelated pages will appear in the search results. Another setback is that search engines comb the whole world wide web. Unfortunately, the world wide web is oversaturated with outdated and forgotten information and resources. Many pages referred to in search engines lead to broken and unusable links or outdated false information.
Salvation in sight!
There have been tremendous improvements over the past few years. The development of Meta-search engines allow you to view the top results from up to 15 popular search engines. This increases the likeliness of attaining quality information.
How do you use a Search Engine?
Can you type in one or more keywords and hope for the best?
Sure! Search engine popularity is primarily due to their simplicity in use. Just type in your key word or words and hit the go or search button.
Are there better and more efficient ways to search with search engines?
Yes! There are ways in which you can customize your search to provided more efficient outcomes. Although they take more time to perform than typing in a few words, their efficiency in results will provide quality results and hyperlinks.
Advanced Power Searching
Because there are so many search engines and each one has it's own unique method of searching, the best way to learn how to use search engines is to consult the search engine website that you are using. Usually, near the search text box, there will be a link to advanced search or tools and tips. These resources are here to help people use search engines more efficiently.
These are some general tools and tips to using search engines which will improve the quality and relevance of your search results. Each search engine employs different strategies and has different requirements for power searching. Below are some examples for searching like a pro:
Placing search words between quotation marks.
Entering words this way tells most search engines to find the words in the exact order you type them: Searching for "the Boston Red Sox" will provide a whole bunch of pages about the baseball team while searching for the Boston Red Sox will list random pages which happen to include the words the, Boston, Red, and Sox. |
Proper names.
Be sure these names are capitalized correctly: Massachusetts, Italy, or Gore, for instance. |
Words separated by hyphens.
Entering words this way sometimes tells search engines to find both words as long as they are close together in the document: scuba-diving, for instance. |
Words in brackets.
By typing words in brackets, it sometimes tells the search engine that the order or arrangements of the words are not important. For instance searching for [dachshund basset hounds] will provide a results list with no preference for order. |
Choices, choices, choices . . .
Where to go?
Commercials for HotBot.com and Yahoo.com flood prime time television. Ads for Infoseek.com are found inside Time magazine. Billboards for NorthernLight.com plaster the Massachusetts Turnpike.
All these search engines perform the same general task.
Similar to advice with Web Directories, use the search engines you are comfortable with, but don't stick exclusively to only one because you never know what advantages you're missing from the competitors. Each search engine looks for websites in a slightly different way. You can perform a search for the same word or phrase on three different search engines, and generate three completely different lists of results. If you are unsuccessful with one search engine, try another. Below are a list of a few search engines, and some things which set them apart from each other.
Google
http://www.google.com/
This is a great search engine because the opening page isn't overstuffed with ads and junk. It's searches are accurate and quick.
MetaCrawler
http://www.metacrawler.com/
This is a meta search engine, which means it searches the search engines. Your web query is sent to other search engines with the click of one button. It provides you with the most popular (and hopefully most accurate) results.
Ask Jeeves
http://www.ask.com/
The first of it's kind, this "Real Language" based search engine processes actual questions ("What are some good stretches for the quadriceps muscle?") instead of keyword ("quadriceps stretches"). It is also broken down categorically, and gives sample outline questions to help with your search. Like any new technology, it has its limitations; however, this website has come a long way in the past few months and will probably have improvements in the future.
Search Engine Activity
Instructions: This assignment will include many of the skills developed in past lessons. Feel free to consult your notes for assistance.
Assignment One: Share a website with others
Find a website that highlights something you enjoy. Show the class.
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Using a Internet Search Engine, find three websites about the same topic. You can find hyperlinks to several Search Engines above.
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Pick a favorite. It can be a favorite because of informational content, appearance, simplicity in finding information, etc.
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Copy down the URL. Post the website you had found on the Intro to the Internet Guestbook for the whole class to read. Describe:
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what the website is about, and;
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why you selected it to be your favorite from the other two you reviewed
Assignment Two: Find a website for another person.
Find a website for someone else. Email them to tell them about it.
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Using a different Internet Search Engine, find three websites about the same topic for a classmate. You can find hyperlinks to several Search Engine above.
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Pick two favorites. It can be a favorite because of informational content, appearance, simplicity in finding information, etc.
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Copy down the two URLs. Email the complete URLs (ex: http://www.bu.edu/) to the person. Describe:
Proceed to the next lesson: If it's Free, It's for Me . . .
Site and course content by Kevin Berner, edited by Lori Wallace and Donna Wilbur
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