Google may be the search engine of choice even though Google track your moves, your interest and even may well manipulate what you access - after all it is a commercial service.
One thing that Google does not do is allow you to visualise the web, your searches or, as far as I know, use other inputs than text.
One thing that Google does not do is allow you to visualise the web, your searches or, as far as I know, use other inputs than text.
Kids tend to use Google as a first choice for any information and yet there are other search engines out there that are providing some interesting alternatives.
Retrivr is a search engine looks for graphics that contain structures that you create on a small graphics area to the left of the screen. Input a simple shape in a particular colour and the search will return images from Flickr that have similar colours and shapes - useful for stimulating composition ideas. One to watch for future developments.
LivePlasma does a similar thing for music and film (or nearly) enter an artists name or the name of an actor and a set of dynamic links appear mapping out the interconnections between the searched for artist.
A number of search engines convert their results into a dynamic map of linked keywords. Quintura provides a map and the search results side by side. One I particularly like actually gives you rewards and more functions the better use you make of the search engine. Ujiko rewards your searching with points. With every 10 points, you move to the next level. They say that 'Your search engine is mutating, new buttons appear giving you access to advanced features (search video, images, news, encyclopedia, advanced filters, animated skins, web archive, traffic details...)'
Grokker provides yet another view of the web, again using a map of sites to zoom into or switch to a list view. Grokker also allows you to export your searches or share them with friends. Kartoo also provides a map of linked sites with its own characteristic way of showing linkages.
Perhaps encouraging learners to use alternative search strategies and engines they will acquire more general 21st century skills rather than simply trusting everything to Google.
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