The Internet’s digital library is certainly one of its most notable resources. For the teacher, student, writer and general researcher, the tool is invaluable because it is so easy to use and couldn’t be more accessible if it tried. You can do a search in pajamas or an evening gown, in slipper, loafers, stiletto heels, or even while watching television and talking on the phone. If you are a lady and true blue multi-tasker, you might even be able to polish your nails and/or dry your hair at the same time!
But all kidding aside, Internet search engines have made the lives of all of us richer and easier in ways that are immeasurable. The nephew of a great mathematician, Milton Sirotta, originally coined Google, which is a play on the word “googol”. It was further popularized as a term in the book, “Mathematics and The Imagination” written by Edward Kasner and James Newman.
Yahoo began as a student hobby at Stanford University and is an acronym for “Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle.” Its two founders, David Filo and Jerry Wang, started their search engine optimization in a campus trailer in February of 1994.
Ask Jeeves, not because the butler not only did it, but even if he didn’t, he knows who did and how to get in touch. This affable, smiling, waist-coated soul is one of the best known advertising faces on the Internet. It is a very forgiving search engine as misspelled words and messy fragments are processed as if they were written in the King’s English. It began in Berkeley, California, as the dream of David Warthen and Garrett Gruener.
Perhaps less known and newer to the scene, but just as important and effective is Gimpsey. This is a web site directory that “helps you do, not find.” It lists only those Internet domain names that provide help in the accomplishment of a single, specific task.
Whichever search engine you employ, you must realize that information gleaned may not always be accurate. Double and triple check your sources. This may be time- consuming, but it will be worth it in the long run.
So, search and ye shall seek, or something like that.