Defining Google
From my “not major” but worth mentioning file.
I was doing some searching the other day at Google and happened to use the word “Google” in my query. I glanced over to the far right side of the results page where Google (and other engines) provide direct links to “definitions and more” via their new relationship with Answers.com. Btw, Answers.com is also a great specialty engine (aka “vertical”) in its own right.
All of my search terms had “definition” links except one. Can you guess the one that didn’t. Yes, it was Google. Here’s an example of what I’m talking about.
Like I said a moment ago, Answers.com provides lots more than definitions (including Wikipedia content) so I was even more surprised not to see a “Google” definition hot link. If nothing else, I would think that at least a cross-reference to the word “googol” would appear. Nope. Yahoo also doesn’t provide a true definition or info about the company but does offer several “did you mean” suggestions including the word googol.
Btw, if you’re wondering, a direct search for Google at Answers.com does provide a result.
Also, a Google search does provide a definition and company info for Yahoo and MSN. (-:
On a related note, another issue that Google should look into is the lack of a “definition” links if you use the site: or other advanced syntax in your query. For example, a search for NIST ( National Institute of Standards and Technology) and provides “definition” links for both terms. However, if you limit your search to just .gov sites. They’re gone.
Postscript: Someone suggested that I check to see how Google’s “web definitions” defines the company. So, I ran a define:google search.
Here are a few of the web definitions:
+ “Search WWW Search ocwd.com”
+ “A Web search program that ranks Web pages in a list of hits by giving weight to the links that reference a specific page.”
Note: This definition is 5 years old and Google looks at more than links to rank pages. Btw, most other web engines also consider links in their relevance ranking.
+ “A relatively new search engine, though its speed and coverage are making it one of the most popular. It has no advertising, so pages are quick to open.” Note: I’m not so sure how “new” Google is anymore and I think they have advertising. (-:
+ “Aroma Dough”
+ “Search the Edna database”
+ “YAHOO AOL MSN”