The changing world of search
(Not Google - search engines defining themselves as somehow different to Google)
There are several search engines that have emerged recently as alternatives to Google.
Some of these are general search engines that work in a very similar way to Google, while others are very different in how they search or what they search.
Some are promoting themselves as more private and less keen to promote sites based on your browsing history.
Others are searching in graphical ways or searching very specific data.
Examples:
• DuckDuckgo - "the search engine that doesn't track you."
duckduckgo.com is a very interesting search engine and what a unique name! Try a search for Ballarat and note the interesting alternative results at the top of the screen. Note as you scroll down the results how the list just grows, no need to hit 2 for the next screen of results. By selecting “Images” at the top you get some images of Ballarat, much like Google does. If you try the “Videos” link at the top of the page there are some very good links to videos that scroll across the screen.
While there is advertising here, the ads are not focussed on your searching history and no record is kept of any sites or ads you do select.
• IzSearch - very new engine : "more privacy, less ads"
izsearch.com is another interesting and non-tracking search engine. It arranges your search results vertically, but it also has images etc down the left side as well as further options related to your search, including ads from eBay amongst others further down on the right. This also includes links to further sources of images and videos about your subject such as Youtube, Pinterest and Flickr. As well as searching for images, videos, news and maps of Ballarat for example, under the More option you could see Blogs from Ballarat. I wonder if this Blog is in there yet. Under that are some interesting search topics not related to your search text, such as pets, health, food and music.
• Instagrok - a visual search tool
instagrok.com is a very different search engine in the way it lays out answers to your search text in speech bubbles. Each bubble has information on it related to your search text. As you click on each one, extensions from your search with related information appear. If you create a free account at Grok and log in when you do your search you are able to take notes in the journal area about your research. There is also a Quiz area next to the journal which has quizzes based on the information in the speech bubbles. Not the easiest search engine to get used to, but a very different approach and interesting in how it provides the results.
• Wolfram Alpha - a computational search engine
wolframalpha.com is a computational search engine, what does that mean???? Try typing 10 year old girl, 140cm into its search window and look at the very interesting results you get. Try typing “carbon” into its search window, try typing 10 peanut M&Ms to get a break down of the ingredients. Sometimes to lighten the mood they will provide a related joke at the bottom.
• Focused or specific search: Apart from things like image search we've been seeing a plethora of Subject or material specific searches. A big one over the past few years has been Creative commons search. This gives results that are copyright free, great if you need an image or sound track for your PowerPoint or promotion.
https://search.creativecommons.org/
• Data - we've all now heard of Big data and open data. There's heaps of data on the web. But how do you find it? This searchable site has data from all over the world including Ballarat
https://www.opendatasoft.com/a-comprehensive-list-of-all-open-data-portals-around-the-world/?utm_source=opendatainceptionio&utm_medium=footer&utm_campaign=opendatainception
