Alternatives to Google or Wikipedia
Stan Schroeder wrote an interesting post about this teacher who instructed her students to refrain from using Google and Wikipedia. See Google is White Bread for the Mind, Says Teacher . Previously, he also wrote the post Why Google is Making Us Dumber. Both for Mashable. This is not the first time people complained about the quality of information and possibly over dependence of Internet users on Google and Wikipedia.
Is it then Google or Wikipedia’s fault?
No. And no one has said so, I think. There have been criticisms on their service but part of the fault, if any, also lies with us punters.
The crucial question is then given the amount of data and speed that we can access it today are these the only way to get to them?
What are the alternatives?
The LibrarianInBlack provided some answers via the post Google does not equal the Web and points to a CIO article that prescribes a way to research and check facts on the Web called Six Techniques to Get More from the Web than Google Will Tell You:
1. Use Search Engines and Wikipedia to Find Quality Research Sources
2. Search Blogs for Specialized Experts Who Sift Through the Web for You
3. Study Business School Websites
4. Find Statistical Data on Government Sources
5. Research Trade Groups and Online Publications for Current Topics, Best Practices
6. Visit the Library for More Research Sources and Online Data
[Source]
The article also contains a special piece on how to measure the trustworthiness of a site or blog in What’s Trustworthy Online?
Google and Wikipedia are not bad but they are just mining the surface of the Seven Seas of Information wait till we get to the Deep Web also known as the Hidden Web.
Nice read, Juned! I guess people have been so used to basically using Google.
I personally go through del.icio.us bookmarks to look for particular topics I want to read about. Sometimes those bookmarks are better because they give me context and I have a ‘network’ that I could rely on because I have an idea what context they bookmark certain URLs.
In my Google Reader, I’ve added some blogs to help me understand particular topics because those are written by people with experience at work, etc. :)
Clair, It is surprising to learn how dependent we are on the Internet now.
Yes, One advantage with blogs and rss its easier to get information from the experts and other lore-masters :)