Breaking the Google Addiction
Several events over the past week, including a campus visit and presentation by Alec Couros, got me thinking about how dependent I am upon Google’s search engine and suite of applications. iGoogle is my portal to the Internet; my searches, RSS feeds, online documents, and maps all seemingly begin and end at the Googleplex. And while I truly appreciate the convenience of having an “all in one” solution to my online information needs, the thought of being so intricately tied to one tool is a bit unsettling. In short, I’m a “Google Addict”…and I don’t think I’m alone in my dependency.
As someone who teaches/encourages students and teachers to “go beyond Google”, I feel the need to lead by example. While I am not willing or able to give up/change my blog reader, shared documents, or driving directions to my next travel destination just yet, I do think it’s time to take a break from Google search in all its forms…if only for a little while. And since breaking an addiction (even if only temporarily) is not easy, I’m asking for your help.
I’m proposing that fellow “addicts” join me in taking a one week break from Google search. There are numerous alternates available, and we will still be able to search the web effectively (and perhaps learn a thing or two along the way). Here is a list from Alec’s wiki that can help us stay on track:
- Yahoo!
- Ask
- MSN Search
- Dogpile
- Google Scholar
- Skreemr (audio search)
- Creative Commons Search (open access materials)
- ChaCha (human powered search)
- SearchMe (visual search)
- Mahalo
- Blinx (video search)
- Tafiti
- Answers
- Clusty
- Polycola
- Kidsclick
- Kartoo (visual)
- Vivisimo (visual)
- Addict-o-matic
- Tag Galaxy
While it may not be easy, I know we can succeed and will be better for the effort. If you’d like to participate, I’d kindly ask that you do the following:
1–Leave a comment with your “quit date” and reason(s) why you want to take a break from Google.
2–Let us know how it’s going/how it went and what you learned from the experience.
Make no mistake: Google is a great search engine, but it is not the only resource at our disposal. Let’s see how we do by branching out and expanding our horizons!
May 31st, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I also recommend using del.icio.us as a search engine. Real people have looked at the resources and leave notes.
May 31st, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Last year they had a Day without Google in June. Sorry I know I have an addiction that needs to be controlled but I just can’t do it; I am a self confessed Google-aholic and Twitter-aholic in need of self help groups for controlling. But my friend Frances did do the Challenge — you can read more about The Day without Google and what Frances learned here.
May 31st, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Oops doesn’t look like I can use HTML linking so here is the link again http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2007/06/13/gooogleless-and-googleholics/
June 1st, 2008 at 7:41 am
Don’t forget Exalead — http://www.exalead.com — that might be a nice interface to play around with, as well.
June 1st, 2008 at 8:25 am
While I support your endeavor, I await to hear if I’m going to become a Google Certified Teacher this Thursday.. I do whatever makes my life easier, better, faster and I’m addicted and love all the GOOGLE apps, in fact, Google Earth has supported my PD time for a few years now!…I support you ..and interested to hear how your weeks winds up!
June 1st, 2008 at 9:37 am
Thanks to all for the great comments!
Kerry–Searching delicious is a GREAT way to find good info; thanks for the reminder.
Sue–I hadn’t heard about last year’s Day Without Google; maybe I’m setting the bar too high to try an entire week
Adriaan–I’m really liking exalead.com; thanks for pointing me to that one.
Cindy–Best of luck with the Google Certification; that’s so cool!
I’m the first to admit that I can’t live without all the Google Apps, and the Google search engine is hard to beat, but I do think it’s worth taking a break and trying other resources…especially when it comes to “real” research. Our students and teachers have access to numerous databases (http://www.micdslibrary.com/databases.html) but time and again choose Google.
For the record, and although I haven’t touched Google in the last 24 hours, my official “quit date” is Friday, June 6th. I’m leading a workshop on search and research strategies that day (and of course have to show Google advanced search) so I can’t start (or stop, I guess) before then….
Wish me luck!
June 1st, 2008 at 10:29 am
Hi Pat. I’m in. I’ll start today, Sunday the 1st. I don’t feel like I am quite at the level of Google Addict but I’d like to branch out all the same. I think I’ll start with the engines with intriguing names like ChaCha and Clusty. Here I go…
June 1st, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Hey Patrick,
Interesting project, that’s for sure! I, too, am a Google addict. I use it all the time for almost anything.
But I’m not sure this is an addiction I even want to walk away from. For me, when any bit of technology fits seamlessly into the background of my life and operates without flaws or glitches, I’m jazzed.
That’s when the technology is working for me—and that’s the point I’ve gotten to with Google products. I no longer even think of them when I’m using them. Instead, my mental energies are spent on the project that I’m working on.
Now, I suppose that I could get to this point with any search engine or set of web applications. I don’t doubt that others work as efficiently or effectively as Google—but until Google goes away, I’m going to dance with the one who brung me!
Does any of this make sense?
Bill
June 1st, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I have to agree with Bill. I wouldn’t classify it as an addiction, as using the tools that work together most effectively. Google is basically building an online OS that you can use from anywhere at any time. Why wouldn’t I want to get behind that? The tools work together nicely and have enough common elements to simplify use. Plus I don’t have to keep track of as many logins, which is a godsend these days.
June 1st, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Hi Pat, I’m not a Google addict, but this is a nice opportunity/challenge to force myself to see what other tools are available. So, I’ll start 6/2.
June 1st, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Thanks Anne, Bill, and Dan for the thoughtful feedback!
I’m with you in that Google’s suite of apps are fantastic and I couldn’t imagine not having them at my disposal. The point I really want to make to students (and teachers), however, is that for real academic research (which we frequently ask students to do), there are other and often better options. I’ve seen too many “research” projects that were based solely on Google search results; what about Gale, EBSCO, SIRS, etc? And in terms of just browsing the web,some of the visual and human-powered search engines are better suited to young(er) learners.
I can’t make a compelling case for the alternatives unless I live with them for awhile, and since I need to show my students all their options, taking a break from Google seemed like a good idea because I want to speak from experience. I know I’ll go back to using Google because it’s the best general-purpose search engine out there, but I shudder to think that a generation of kids will only scratch the surface of what information is available online because they only used one tool.
Hopefully I’m making sense and not coming across as “anti-Google.” If so…I’ll beg your collective pardon and chalk it up to withdrawal symptoms
June 1st, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Pat:
One of the search tools that I have used for years is http://www.altavista.com. After you are done with your step away from Google, take some time to compare Google search results with another tool. It is surprising to see the difference in the results. Sometimes the results are the same, sometimes not. I really want to learn to search the deep web this summer. It’s my main research to prepare for the coming school year and something I want to teach my students. I hope you’ll write up a post with your results.
Ann
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:30 am
Pat wrote:
The point I really want to make to students (and teachers), however, is that for real academic research (which we frequently ask students to do), there are other and often better options. I’ve seen too many “research” projects that were based solely on Google search results
I’m down with this, Pat. It makes perfect sense to me—-and the only way you can show other options is to know other options!
You’re nudging me towards a Google-Free week too….I’m not quite there yet, but I’m leaning.
Rock on,
Bill
June 24th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
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August 13th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I recommend http://www.ispyearth.com. Its similar to polycola but you can cross search media types and open up more than 2 frames.