danthetechguy.net

Just thought I’d share a tweet posted earlier today…just an example why all GPS devices must remind users to have a good dose of common sense when blindly taking turn by turn directions.

This isn’t the only ‘oops’ found on Google Maps Streetview, so share if you have any. In fact, until recently, you could request directions from New York City to Paris. The directions were very accurate -with one major issue….A short swim across the pond, also know as the Atlantic Ocean. Here are a few other interesting finds on Google Maps: http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2007/03/google-maps-shows-funny-directions.html

Well I hope I Will Richardson doesn’t mind, but I’m going to plug his book in my blog by using a tool that will change the face of blogs as they can be used in education. Upon checking my Feeds for the day, I saw that Will discovered a great tool. The article, bookmarked at Will’s Delicious site can be read here: SchoolLibraryJournal.com. I just had to try and embed a Google Book Search text in my blog. I chose Will’s text because I just included it as part of a research assignment for a group of classroom teachers and technology trainers across the state (of North Carolina).

So here’s the text…check out the level of interaction that you have..zoom, pan, scroll, just as if it were yours for the taking.

So what would you do with a tool like this? (other than buying a copy of this great text)

Yes, I dare to go there! While Google has proven, time and time again, to be the most effective search engine at giving you what you are looking for, it has also paralize our brains into thinking beyond the first page of search results. So I asked the question, what other search engines are out there? If there are others, what can they offer that Google doesn’t?

I came across Viewzi and was pleasantly surprised to see a creative new approach. Instead of searching indexed sites as Google does, Viewzi is a meta-search. It provides a visual approach to search engine results.

Here’s the sales pitch. It’s slick design has been a popular hit. The question is - how are the results compared to Google?

Other questions to consider:

1. How long will Google stay on top?
2. What search engines have you found that are equally as valuable to you (either in your line of work or otherwise)?
3. What is the risk of using only one search engine to cull data and research?