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Specific In Specific Out
By Carl Semmelroth
Copyright Ó 2002
Most of us grew up using libraries and reference rooms and when
we search the WWW we take our library habits with us. If we are
searching for a date of death for a famous person, say
Shakespeare, we proceed like we are in a library. We search for a
biography of Shakespeare and proceed to look for his dates. If we
are seeking some specific information about Robins, say their
life span, we start by looking for information about Robbins.
Here's an alternative method for finding specific information.
Try typing in Google's search window "Shakespeare died on" or
"Robins die" each in quotes. The WWW is now so large that the
major search engines have stored billions of pages of text.
Chances are very good that you will get your answer to a
specific question right at the top of your search result when
you construct a phase that might appear in the answer to your
question. BTW, Robins live five or six years if they survive
the first one and Shakespeare died April 23, 1616.
Here are some searches that resulted from dinner table
conversations at our home. (We are a fairly strange family.)
Question: What's the melting point of stainless steel?
Query form: "The melting point of stainless steel is"
Search engine second place: "The melting point of stainless
steel is around 1400 deg. C."
Question: Is Orson Welles dead?
Query form: "Orson Welles died on"
Search engine result: Five results were returned. Two say
10/9/1985 and one says 10/10/1985. Anyway, he is dead.
Question: We couldn't remember who was in To Have and Have Not
with Bogart.
Query form: "starred in To Have and Have Not"
Search engine result: Of course, Lauren Becall, at eighteen, and
then married Bogart.
And one more I can't resist including.
Question: What is the anger habit?
Query form: "The Anger Habit is"
Search engine result: The Anger Habit is a powerful, thought
provoking and readable book.
So remember, when you are looking for information on the
WWW, think of a specific phrase that might appear in the answer
to your question. You will be pleasantly surprised at how easy
it is.
About the Author
Carl Semmelrothis a psychologist and writer. His latest book is The Anger Habit which has a specific place on the WWW.
www.theangerhabit.com
Contact Carl at csemmelroth@chartermi.net