Comments on: Breaking the Google Addiction

By: mike

mike — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:34:34 +0000

I recommend http://www.ispyearth.com. Its similar to polycola but you can cross search media types and open up more than 2 frames.

By: blinx video

blinx video — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:35:58 +0000

[...] engine and suite of applications. iGoogle is my portal to the Internet my searches, RSS feeds, ohttp://pwoessner.com/2008/05/31/breaking-the-google-addiction/Blinx delivers legendary university speeches&quotBlinkx was set to announce on Tuesday that it is [...]

By: Bill Ferriter

Bill Ferriter — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:30:33 +0000

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

By: Ann Oro

Ann Oro — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 01:34:38 +0000

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

By: pwoessner

pwoessner — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:02:05 +0000

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

By: LangLabCindy

LangLabCindy — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:54:58 +0000

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.

By: Dan Callahan

Dan Callahan — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:38:36 +0000

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.

By: Bill Ferriter

Bill Ferriter — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:25:09 +0000

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

By: Anne W.

Anne W. — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:29:43 +0000

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…

By: pwoessner

pwoessner — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:37:07 +0000

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!