Question One:
What is a search engine
Internet search engines (eg Google, AltaVista) help users find web pages on a given subject. The search engines maintain databases of web sites and use programs (often referred to as "spiders" or "robots") to collect information, which is then indexed by the search engine. Similar services are provided by "directories," which maintain ordered lists of websites, eg Yahoo! (www.liv.ac.uk/webteam/glossary)
Question Two:
How do search engines rank the stuff they find on the internet?
Search engines use automated software programs knows as spiders or bots to survey the Web and build their databases. Web documents are retrieved by these programs and analyzed. Data collected from each web page are then added to the search engine index. When you enter a query at a search engine site, your input is checked against the search engine's index of all the web pages it has analyzed. The best urls are then returned to you as hits, ranked in order with the best results at the top. (http://www.monash.com/spidap4.html)
Question Three: what are some of your favourite search engines? why do you like one more than others?
My favourite search engine is probably the one most often used- google. Very rarely do I stray from using google, it seems to have worked well for me so far.
Question four: Can you find some current news stories about search engines? (for example, Google has been in the technology news a bit lately).
Google cleared of search 'conspiracy'
Lawsuit alleging political & religious bias dismissed
Jon Brodkin
A US District Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Google by a company that accused it of dropping websites from search results for political and religious reasons and skewing results in favour of companies that compensate Google financially.
The lawsuit was filed by KinderStart, a parenting information website that claims it was illegally blocked from Google search results.
Judge Jeremy Fogel of San Jose, California, not only dismissed the lawsuit but granted a motion by Google to sanction KinderStart and one of its lawyers.
Fogel said Google can now seek "reasonable compensation" for attorney fees because KinderStart lawyer Gregory Yu filed claims that were factually baseless and did not perform an adequate investigation before filing the lawsuit.
Yu's claim that Google gives higher search placements to companies that pay for that privilege "should not have been made based upon the limited information identified by Yu," Fogel wrote in the ruling. "Yu's purported evidence is either double hearsay or hearsay speculation as to the 'mysterious' causes of improvement in a website's position in Google's search results. Yu provides no evidence that would support KinderStart's broad attacks on the objectivity of Google's search results."
Judge Fogel said KinderStart's allegation that Google removes websites from search results based on political and religious reasons was also baseless.
"KinderStart does not appear to allege that KinderStart itself suffered any discrimination by Google for political or religious reasons," Fogel wrote. "It is true that Yu spoke with a number of people who believe that Google engages in religious or political discrimination, but a reasonable, competent investigation requires more than suspicions or belief. Yu had a professional responsibility to refrain from filing such allegations if he did not have appropriate supporting evidence."
In response to the ruling, Google released a statement from Hilary Ware, the company's litigation counsel: "We always felt these claims were unjustified, because courts have consistently rejected complaints over search engine rankings, so we're pleased that Judge Fogel promptly dismissed this case."
www.networkworld.com
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Tutorial Task Scavenger Hunt:
Q. The World's Biggest Pumpkin
A. The world's largest jack o'lantern was carved by Scott Cully (USA) from the world's largest pumpkin on October 31, 2005 in Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania, USA. The pumpkin was grown by Larry Checkon (USA) and weighed 666.32 kg at the Pennsylvania Giant Pumpkin Growers Association Weigh-off, on October 1, 2005.
(http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com) via yahoo search engine
Q. How long is a giraffes tounge?
A. 46 to 50 centimeters. It also is a blue-black colour (from the Animal Planet website- having been to this website prior to the tute task I knew it contained the desired information)
Q. What is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact Grant Hackett?
A.http://granthackett.on-4.com is his homepage is a somewhat effective way to contact him. His online yahoo club is probs the quickest way to contact him though it would mean becoming a member first.
Q. How would you define the word 'ontology'? In your own words, what does it really mean ?
A. This one was easy peasy cuz i didn't even have to look it up via Yahoo search. www. dictionary. com - use it alll the time. mostly for the thesauraus.
-on·tol·o·gy - the metaphysical study of the nature of being and existence
soo im guessing the means it is the study behind various theorys and philosphies dealing with human existance, why things are...ect.
?
Q. What was David Cronenberg's first feature film?
A. Cronenberg's first effort was a 1966 short film called "Transfer," about a psychiatrist being stalked by a patient (www.wikipeida.com- unreliable I know but i backed it up with a 2nd website (http://www.salon.com) about science fiction movies and it checked out ok.
Q. When was the original 'Hacker's Manifesto' written?
A. The Conscience of a Hacker (also known as The Hacker Manifesto) is a small essay written January 8, 1986 by a hacker who went by the handle (or pseudonym) of The Mentor (born Loyd Blankenship). It was written after the author's arrest, and first published in the underground hacker ezine Phrack in Volume One, Issue 7, Phile 3 of 10. Today it can be found on countless websites.
It is considered a cornerstone of hacker culture, and it gives some insight into the psychology of early hackers. It is said to have shaped the hacker community's view of itself and its motivations. The Manifesto states that hackers choose to hack because it is a way for them to learn, and because they are often frustrated and bored in school. It also expresses the satori of a hacker realizing his potential in the realm of computers.
To this day, the Manifesto acts as a guideline to hackers across the globe, especially those new to the field. It serves as an ethical foundation for hacking, and asserts that there is a point to hacking that supersedes selfish desires to exploit or harm other people, and that technology should be used to expand our horizons and try to keep the world free.
courtesy of wikipedia.com
Q. Why do all phone numbers in Hollywood films start with '555'?
A. FOR MANY years, 555 was unassigned as a dialling code in the US and could thus be used to prefix fictional numbers with impunity. Due to expansion, the code has recently been assigned, but scriptwriters and others maintain the use.
- http://www.guardian.co.uk- brittish newspaper source website
Q.What is the cheapest form of travel from Crete to Rhodes?
A. According to a few travel websites, flying seems to be the cheapest form of transport. none really had the exact prices. (cretetravel.com)
Q.What song was top of the Australian Pop Charts this week in 1965?
A. March 13 March 26: Eight Days A Week -The Beatles ....yay I love them- http://www.popculturemadness.com
Q.Which Brisbane band includes Stephen Stockwell on keyboards and vocals?
A. Brisbane punk band Black Assassins....LOL. (http://www.brisbanewritersfestival.com)
that just makes him even more likeable
Q. The World's Biggest Pumpkin
A. The world's largest jack o'lantern was carved by Scott Cully (USA) from the world's largest pumpkin on October 31, 2005 in Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania, USA. The pumpkin was grown by Larry Checkon (USA) and weighed 666.32 kg at the Pennsylvania Giant Pumpkin Growers Association Weigh-off, on October 1, 2005.
(http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com) via yahoo search engine
Q. How long is a giraffes tounge?
A. 46 to 50 centimeters. It also is a blue-black colour (from the Animal Planet website- having been to this website prior to the tute task I knew it contained the desired information)
Q. What is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact Grant Hackett?
A.http://granthackett.on-4.com is his homepage is a somewhat effective way to contact him. His online yahoo club is probs the quickest way to contact him though it would mean becoming a member first.
Q. How would you define the word 'ontology'? In your own words, what does it really mean ?
A. This one was easy peasy cuz i didn't even have to look it up via Yahoo search. www. dictionary. com - use it alll the time. mostly for the thesauraus.
-on·tol·o·gy - the metaphysical study of the nature of being and existence
soo im guessing the means it is the study behind various theorys and philosphies dealing with human existance, why things are...ect.
?
Q. What was David Cronenberg's first feature film?
A. Cronenberg's first effort was a 1966 short film called "Transfer," about a psychiatrist being stalked by a patient (www.wikipeida.com- unreliable I know but i backed it up with a 2nd website (http://www.salon.com) about science fiction movies and it checked out ok.
Q. When was the original 'Hacker's Manifesto' written?
A. The Conscience of a Hacker (also known as The Hacker Manifesto) is a small essay written January 8, 1986 by a hacker who went by the handle (or pseudonym) of The Mentor (born Loyd Blankenship). It was written after the author's arrest, and first published in the underground hacker ezine Phrack in Volume One, Issue 7, Phile 3 of 10. Today it can be found on countless websites.
It is considered a cornerstone of hacker culture, and it gives some insight into the psychology of early hackers. It is said to have shaped the hacker community's view of itself and its motivations. The Manifesto states that hackers choose to hack because it is a way for them to learn, and because they are often frustrated and bored in school. It also expresses the satori of a hacker realizing his potential in the realm of computers.
To this day, the Manifesto acts as a guideline to hackers across the globe, especially those new to the field. It serves as an ethical foundation for hacking, and asserts that there is a point to hacking that supersedes selfish desires to exploit or harm other people, and that technology should be used to expand our horizons and try to keep the world free.
courtesy of wikipedia.com
Q. Why do all phone numbers in Hollywood films start with '555'?
A. FOR MANY years, 555 was unassigned as a dialling code in the US and could thus be used to prefix fictional numbers with impunity. Due to expansion, the code has recently been assigned, but scriptwriters and others maintain the use.
- http://www.guardian.co.uk- brittish newspaper source website
Q.What is the cheapest form of travel from Crete to Rhodes?
A. According to a few travel websites, flying seems to be the cheapest form of transport. none really had the exact prices. (cretetravel.com)
Q.What song was top of the Australian Pop Charts this week in 1965?
A. March 13 March 26: Eight Days A Week -The Beatles ....yay I love them- http://www.popculturemadness.com
Q.Which Brisbane band includes Stephen Stockwell on keyboards and vocals?
A. Brisbane punk band Black Assassins....LOL. (http://www.brisbanewritersfestival.com)
that just makes him even more likeable
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Blog # 3
My main form of communicative technology is definitely the internet. I think msn is an excellent way to keep in touch with previous friends or get to know unfamiliar people better. It is a non confrontational method to get to get accustom to some one new. Personally the only friends I know exclusively from the internet are not complete strangers, but friends of a friend I have been recommended by my friend, to talk to online.
By doing this it makes it easier to click with them faster when meeting with them in real life. As well as this it is a less direct way to keep in touch with friends you do not see often but wish to remain in contact with. Most of my friends I talk to online though are people I see on a fairly regular basis.
I have been using these technologies for around 3 years. I first started using a mobile phone when I was given one for Christmas at the age of 14. Shortly after I made an msn account and some time last year when myspace became all the craze I set up an account for myself. It’s actually pretty mind blowing how fast myspace has become so popular around the world.
The entire and only reason I started to use these technologies was purely to keep in touch with friends of mine (and for entertainment I suppose). I feel by using them they definitely in some way strengthened or ignited some of the friendships I have today.
My main form of communicative technology is definitely the internet. I think msn is an excellent way to keep in touch with previous friends or get to know unfamiliar people better. It is a non confrontational method to get to get accustom to some one new. Personally the only friends I know exclusively from the internet are not complete strangers, but friends of a friend I have been recommended by my friend, to talk to online.
By doing this it makes it easier to click with them faster when meeting with them in real life. As well as this it is a less direct way to keep in touch with friends you do not see often but wish to remain in contact with. Most of my friends I talk to online though are people I see on a fairly regular basis.
I have been using these technologies for around 3 years. I first started using a mobile phone when I was given one for Christmas at the age of 14. Shortly after I made an msn account and some time last year when myspace became all the craze I set up an account for myself. It’s actually pretty mind blowing how fast myspace has become so popular around the world.
The entire and only reason I started to use these technologies was purely to keep in touch with friends of mine (and for entertainment I suppose). I feel by using them they definitely in some way strengthened or ignited some of the friendships I have today.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
POST # 2
After having been introduced to the theory of ‘French new wave cinema’, during week 2’s lecture, the issue I decided to reflect upon for my blog post was the exemplified French film 'La Jetee'.
On first impression, I thoroughly enjoyed viewing it because the concepts contained in the film I found highly intriguing and it left me thinking long after it had finished. I also appreciated that it provided a refreshing change from the usual lecture proceedings I’ve experienced so far.
After briefly researching the movie I learnt that it was released in 1962, making it fairly technologically forward in terms of addressing issues such as mind control, time travel and the possible consequence of a nuclear world aftermath by predicting the outcome of world war three.
Although these concepts may seem a bit farfetched in this day and age, in the early 60's these approaches were most probably new and exciting ideas that were thought to be possible modernistic communication and technology advances in the near future.
Apart from the avant-garde theme, the film also used innovative film techniques, such as still frames, voice over and dramatic imagery. This was why the film was such a renowned groundbreaking installment in the world of movies, inspiring other cutting edge motion pictures like the recommended viewing ‘Twelve Monkeys’ a 1995 science fiction film written by David and Janet Peoples, which was inevitably inspired directly by 'La Jetee'.
In conclusion, sub sequentially having watched it I could see how it related to the overall subject of new communication technology, and it made me think on a deeper level the actual meaning behind the name of the course.
After having been introduced to the theory of ‘French new wave cinema’, during week 2’s lecture, the issue I decided to reflect upon for my blog post was the exemplified French film 'La Jetee'.
On first impression, I thoroughly enjoyed viewing it because the concepts contained in the film I found highly intriguing and it left me thinking long after it had finished. I also appreciated that it provided a refreshing change from the usual lecture proceedings I’ve experienced so far.
After briefly researching the movie I learnt that it was released in 1962, making it fairly technologically forward in terms of addressing issues such as mind control, time travel and the possible consequence of a nuclear world aftermath by predicting the outcome of world war three.
Although these concepts may seem a bit farfetched in this day and age, in the early 60's these approaches were most probably new and exciting ideas that were thought to be possible modernistic communication and technology advances in the near future.
Apart from the avant-garde theme, the film also used innovative film techniques, such as still frames, voice over and dramatic imagery. This was why the film was such a renowned groundbreaking installment in the world of movies, inspiring other cutting edge motion pictures like the recommended viewing ‘Twelve Monkeys’ a 1995 science fiction film written by David and Janet Peoples, which was inevitably inspired directly by 'La Jetee'.
In conclusion, sub sequentially having watched it I could see how it related to the overall subject of new communication technology, and it made me think on a deeper level the actual meaning behind the name of the course.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
BLOG # 1
HOK.
Well this is post number ONE in my, no doubt, unbelievably amazing future blog. I am assuming the greatness of my blog will be due to the fact I have extreme myspace skills and I am an avid and frequent msn user, both of which, along with the blog, are popular new technological ways to communicate with the wide web of people out there in the internet world.
I'd even go as far as to say I am a junkie of any internet related activity and have been known to spend the excess of twelve hours straight online in one sitting. Does this make me a geek? A nerd? A loser with no life?
While all options are possible, I like to think of it as my way of showing supreme appreciation to the wonderful 'new communication technology’ that has most definitely made my teenage years more fulfilling.
So after that enthralling introduction you are presumably clambering with desire to know more about the real me. So here goes. My name is Ruby. E. Winter. The E does not stand for anything. You may think thats a little odd, but keep in mind my sister's middle name is Velvet so really I got off easy. I am seventeen years old, dark hair, extremley short with freckles just in case you wanted to put face to name.
I went to Robina State High, most of the time....when I felt like it. I took part and completed the Guest Program last year at Griffith, which was wonderful, and I can not thank whoever created it enough for providing me with this inspiring opportunity. I feel I got the upper hand on uni life because of it. This is unquestionably a good thing, seeing as I take awhile to ease into new situations. Most probably because I come from Springbrook, but that is a whole other story.
Whilst at Uni I hope to figure out what exactly I want to do in life, I have high hopes for whatever that may be. The subjects I am taking are New Communication Technology (New Comm Tech), Introduction to Politics (Poltics) and Cultural Perspectives (Cul Spec).
New Communication Technology seems to be a benefical subject to be taking because there is a constant changing and advancing of technology in the new age society we are currently living in. Therefore by studying and understanding this phenomenom of technology i believe it will definetly be relevant in future working situations or just generally every day life
I choose to do a Bachelor of Journalism mainly because writing/reading/researching are all things i enjoy doing. Luckily for me a fair few of my friends were also intrested in this course so I haven't had to tackle it alone. Which basically means it is not so daunting having to find rooms, understanding assignments and just being a student at university.
In conclusion, to this highly informative and intelligent post (LOL), this is only a taste to what is in store. Just envision what my essay is going to be like. I am as excited as you, trust me.
The End.
Well this is post number ONE in my, no doubt, unbelievably amazing future blog. I am assuming the greatness of my blog will be due to the fact I have extreme myspace skills and I am an avid and frequent msn user, both of which, along with the blog, are popular new technological ways to communicate with the wide web of people out there in the internet world.
I'd even go as far as to say I am a junkie of any internet related activity and have been known to spend the excess of twelve hours straight online in one sitting. Does this make me a geek? A nerd? A loser with no life?
While all options are possible, I like to think of it as my way of showing supreme appreciation to the wonderful 'new communication technology’ that has most definitely made my teenage years more fulfilling.
So after that enthralling introduction you are presumably clambering with desire to know more about the real me. So here goes. My name is Ruby. E. Winter. The E does not stand for anything. You may think thats a little odd, but keep in mind my sister's middle name is Velvet so really I got off easy. I am seventeen years old, dark hair, extremley short with freckles just in case you wanted to put face to name.
I went to Robina State High, most of the time....when I felt like it. I took part and completed the Guest Program last year at Griffith, which was wonderful, and I can not thank whoever created it enough for providing me with this inspiring opportunity. I feel I got the upper hand on uni life because of it. This is unquestionably a good thing, seeing as I take awhile to ease into new situations. Most probably because I come from Springbrook, but that is a whole other story.
Whilst at Uni I hope to figure out what exactly I want to do in life, I have high hopes for whatever that may be. The subjects I am taking are New Communication Technology (New Comm Tech), Introduction to Politics (Poltics) and Cultural Perspectives (Cul Spec).
New Communication Technology seems to be a benefical subject to be taking because there is a constant changing and advancing of technology in the new age society we are currently living in. Therefore by studying and understanding this phenomenom of technology i believe it will definetly be relevant in future working situations or just generally every day life
I choose to do a Bachelor of Journalism mainly because writing/reading/researching are all things i enjoy doing. Luckily for me a fair few of my friends were also intrested in this course so I haven't had to tackle it alone. Which basically means it is not so daunting having to find rooms, understanding assignments and just being a student at university.
In conclusion, to this highly informative and intelligent post (LOL), this is only a taste to what is in store. Just envision what my essay is going to be like. I am as excited as you, trust me.
The End.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)