Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Are we Google dependant?


This time of semester is the busyiest for most students - we have multiple assignments and the fear of end of semester exams. Being one of those students, I find it very hard to find the time to get everything done... and unfortunately that has been the case for my blog.

I logged on just the other day to start writing on the topic, open source software, and to my surprise, Axel's article had been taken down. So I googled it but could not find his article anywhere.

Google had failed me.

There are not many occasions when I would say this, but it got me thinking about how dependant I am on Google. Whenever I don't know something, I log onto my computer, type it into Google, and there's my answer. For example, if I don't know the meaning of a word, I'll 'google it.' Long gone are the days when we take out our dictionaries, flip to the letter and scan through all the words - we can do this online now which takes hardly anytime.

Yes, I have gone on a slight tangent and have not focussed at all on open source software, but this realisation has made me a little concerned. Is everyone like me? Are we all addicted to 'googling?' I think we are very close and with evolving technologies, it is probably safe to say that in the very near future we will be living in 'The Google Era.'


14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think that we are going to start using other methods of searching for information, whatever that may be. I am trying to get out of the Google-cycle. I've recently decided to keep track of blogs (stuff like this http://www.betterbusinessblogging.com/ or http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/). I've still yet to set up a feed for these blogs, but hopefully soon! I also want to make more use of del.icio.us and other similar websites to get info without having to be too dependent on Google.

Another sort of site that I find useful is sites like http://whitepapers.zdnet.com/

Google is a great company though, I think that it is a good strategy to not rely so much on the search engine.

-hannah

Deena said...

Elsye,
I enjoyed reading your blog about Google and our increasing dependency on the search engine. Likewise to you, I am a time-poor uni student who often leaves assessment to the last minute. I also prefer to use the Internet to conduct my research and find definitions. More recently, I have become a self-confessed dictionary.com and thesaurus.com junkie. These two favourites of mine make finding definitions and synonyms effortless. Additionally, these resources use a collaborative approach, citing definitions from various dictionaries and encyclopaedias (eg. Encyclopædia Britannica, American Heritage Dictionary and Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law) to ensure a well-researched answer. Furthermore, rather than sitting for hours in a dank library flipping through textbooks, online search engines, such as Google, allow students and researchers to access a vast array of information from a variety of sources in a relatively short period of time.

However, whilst it is great to have a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips, I do think there is some danger in becoming too dependent on Google as our only investigative tool. With more and more of us becoming ‘produsers’, I believe it is important when researching, to be competent in distinguishing accurate information from mere opinion and unsubstantiated claims. This is where I find academic databases, like ProQuest and FindArticles.com, come in handy. Nonetheless, I definitely agree – there will be no escaping “The Google Era”.

PaulaKCB201VC said...

Hi Elyse!

I am going to sound like I am about 100 years old right now, but I remember a time when information about history, animals, plants science and geography came from encyclopedias. Phone numbers and addresses came from the phone book and the weather was in the paper and on the news. I got a train timetable from the station and kept it in my bag and reading came from books.

Now I am only 21 and, like you, totally google dependant. If google shut down tomorrow I am sure that I would find another search engine, probably searchmsn.com or yahoo.com. I am thinking that the issue is not google related - it is online related. What would we do if the internet disappeared. Would we still have the skills to source information from elsewhere?

Sometimes I think if we went back to "the good ol' days" we wouldn't have to sift through millions and millions of sources that are complete rubbish!!

Great post even though it's not what you intended!!

Katie Adkins said...

Dear Elyse,

Your blog entry concerning Google and society's increasing dependency on the search engine was very captivating. As a self-confessed Google addict, I use the search engine on a daily basis for images, definitions, maps and blogger. It is definitely the first port of call if I need a quick answer.

Users do however need to start using other methods of searching for information. Databases are an extremely important place to find scholarly journal articles (e.g. ProQuest). There is a marked difference between Google articles and journal articles if users take the time and effort to effectively utilise databases.

If users overuse search engines like Google to find information, there are negative risks and potential downfalls. Even though it is an extraordinary search engine, we are becoming too dependent on Google as one of our only search tools.

By providing such functions, technologies have expanded the boundaries for the community of users to be able to contribute and collaborate to the produsage project (Bruns 2007). Due to the increase in individuals becoming produsers, it is critically imperative to be extremely competent in analysing sources and the credibility of information.

Other resources including online encyclopaedias and dictionaries (e.g. Encyclopaedia Britannica or Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law) use excellent collaborative approaches to citing definitions and information. Using a range of sources will ensure you obtain a well-research answer in future writing.

I also agree that there will be no escaping “The Google Era” and it will continue to be popular and overused for years to come.

cheese said...

I hate to say it Elyse, but I think we are already in the Google Era. You aren't alone, I think you will find that the majority of computer-literate people out there (which these days, is almost everyone) is becoming Google-dependant. However, call me old fashioned but I still use my good old fashioned Britannica World Language.. wait for it.. Edition of FUNK AND WAGNALLS STANDARD dictionary... dictionary.com tends to be my last resort!! I'm not sure why.. I guess I have a lot of trust in books. And although I do use the Internet a lot for assignments, it is really more for convenience when I have been slack and not made it to the library. I actually function a lot better with hundreds of open books in front of me.

So don't worry too much.. tradition isn't totally out the window (although it is losing miserably to Google)............................................................................. and when Google DOES fail you.. try your old friend the library!

Bianca said...

I’m glad I stumbled upon this entry. Last night, while finishing off an assignment, I realised I had no idea where one of my very important quotes came from. I searched my notes, but I just had no idea. The answer? Stick the quote into Google, and the source came up immediately. I remember breathing a sigh of relief and telling my boyfriend that I “loved” Google. This is a much happier story than yours though, unfortunately. But at least we know Google is looking out for some of us.

I can’t remember the last time I looked through a real dictionary (do I even own one?), let alone even looked at dictionary.com! Google, for many of us, is not a verb, not a website. Google is the answer to every question we could every have. Locations of businesses, which stores are in which Westfield, what’s on the menu at a certain restaurant…Google seems to have the answer for everything. So yes. I’m very Google dependent. I find it interesting how all the other search engines don’t act the same way – Yahoo, Alta Vista… they seemed to have disappeared. Perhaps because Google rolls off the tongue easier than “I’m going to go Yahoo that”, or even worse “I just need to Alta Vista the address”.

Dittems said...

Elyse…well put!!! I like most people who have now left you comments enjoyed discovering the similarities between ourselves, and like-minded time-poor uni students. Google…yes, just as I have said the internet is magic, I believe google is well on the way…
I myself have been guilty many a times saying ‘just google it.’ It is officially part of our culture and we can not ignore it. This is part of the reason that Google has become the institution that it is. Google started off small, and is now a multi million search engine, and I believe its currently number one, knocking Yahoo off the top some time ago.

But regardless, I think part of its success depends upon the openness of the information, the sorting system and the level of interactivity. To a degree, I would almost call Google a community in itself. At base, you have the Google community in head office, that research websites, facts and links to maintain google’s credibility and well, their sponsorship and advertising commitments. Then on the next level, you have the Google database community, consisting of all the websites that are some how interconnected through single words, phrases, topics or authors. Then you have the global community of all Google users, who like myself, are dependant on Google. I personally cant imagine the WWW without Google, I am too dependant on their speed of knowledge. It makes my day when I log on, and I see the main Google picture in the middle with a little emoticon attached that replicates the season, a current event or gimmick.

Enter the concept of produsage. Several heads is better than one. Through people uploading information all over the world, one can gain multiple views from all areas, providing a broad view. This is just not possible with some websites.
The question of reliability is relevant and there will always be a need for university database useage, for example, my favourite, ProQuest. However, I do lose my patience ( not that I have a high level of it) quite often using this database.

I love Google, I rely on it heavily and don’t think I could survive my university degree with out it!

Cool James said...

Are we so dependent because Google is God?
Google knows what you're thinking. And it turns out you're thinking about sex, God, a new job and professional wrestling.

Ahmad Blog said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ahmad Blog said...

I partly agree with your opinion on the discussion topic "are we google dependent?". I do always use google search in my research to do my assignment. Normally I always get what I want using google search though sometime it fail me. But in your case, are you always fail whenever you use google search? It is weird if it so. I wonder if you know well how to use search engine in a proper way. You can look at the QUT library website under the link: learn->How to find types of informations->How to find search internet tools. You can learn more how to use search engine in detail. If you cannot find what you want using a particular search engine, you can look other alternative such yahoo search, Live MSN and others. The most important thing in using the search engine is that you must know the technique how to use it in a correct way. You must know to refine your search in order to get the correct information that you are looking for. Anyhow, whatever the search engine you are using, the basic principle is still the same for all. There is no harm if you to stick to google search. Choice is yours. But for me to know other search engine is much better, Two is better than one. Three is better than two and so on. The more you learn, the broader knowledge you will get.

BNELive said...

I use google constantly in my daily life, so I am some what dependent. Obviously I use it for university to find articles relating to the topics I'm studying (Google Scholar is great for that too). At home I use it to find a variety of things, such as new websites, definitions of words, song lyrics etc. One thing I've found search engines great for is finding information on something, when you don't know what it is your after. For example, I work in a music shop and constantly we will have customers come in who say "I really love this song, but I don't remember the artist or the title, but I'll sing you some lyrics, can you tell me who it's by?". So after painfully sitting through a customers tone deaf singing, I can take a handful of lyrics and chuck them in a search engine. In a split second the artist and song title will (usually) appear. Not only is Google great for answering questions, it is also extremely useful for gathering specific information. Google lets you use a range of programming operators that allow you to extensively narrow down a search on a topic. For example you could search "Cookies" but have Google emit all results that contain chocolate chip.

So yeah, I'd say I'm Google dependant.

n5706939 said...

I believe your blog on "Are we Google Dependent" would relate to just about every virtual culture user, because our increasing dependency on search engines are ever increasing.

As a news reporter I am a daily Google user.
In Fact I would use Google at least fifteen times a day finding statistics, opinions, results, story ideas and personal reasons such as booking holidays.

But like you, Google has failed me!

Now although sometimes it has come down to my search definition needing restructuring, but other times it has been 'gatekeepers' controlling the content and keeping me away.

This has happened to me more then once or twice, proving to me Google are obviously regulating what they want us to see and what the do not want us to see.
But then again we have the power of the consumer to force Google to deliver the information we want by searching specifically for certain elements that are against net neutrality like handsoff.org.

However, although I do think search engines are great, should we really be as dependent on them?
With more people become 'produsers' on a daily basis society is becoming too lazy.
We seem to except too much at the click of a mouse.
Remember: you don’t always need it just because you can get it.

tomtily said...

I could not agree with you more Elyse… I use Google for everything, to tell you the truth I feel that I have am learning more off the internet than my entire 2 years of university. Information is becoming so accessible that it is scary. I don’t know how people can be computer illiterate because Google has made it so easy; all you have to do is type in your question and Google does it all. I wonder what would happen if Google was targeted by terrorists?

Another trend I have also noticed is the uptake of ‘Googling’ in the corporate sector. I work as a marketing and sales manager for an IT company and we are dependent on Google and the Internet. I find it funny that universities and academics try to force their students to have book references rather than internet ones. There is information on the internet that you would not have access to otherwise.

“The Google Era”, has definitely begun but I feel that it is only the tip of the iceberg I have a feeling we will be relying on Google a lot more in the future. Lucky it is free otherwise we’d all be broke.

C.H.Edwards said...

Hey Elyse,

I thought your blog on our increasing dependency on Google was very apt considering the time of semester. I'm sure many of our fellow students feel to be in a situation similar to your own in that they rarely make use of conventional resources in conducting research. My own reliance has left me in a spot of bother at times because you can't always rely on technology so your concerns aren't unfounded. But ask yourself what the alternative was/is? What would you rather, lugging textbooks around uni all day after a cat fight and a half to obtain them or the slim chance that your internet might be slow let alone down one day. Even if that one day is the one before an assessment is due I'd rather the latter. Also, I read deena's comment and have to say that I completely agree with the girl. DIctionary.com is by far a more comprehensive and satisfying resource for definitions. Given its all in one collaborative synthesis, regardless of the context of the word you are sure to find an appropriate definition.
Furthermore, I have to agree with deena's comment that there is an inherent danger in becoming too reliant on Google and other search engines but for reasons other than quality assessment. Imagine and god forbid but just imagine that Google implodes or explodes either because of the enormous volume of information and data it manages or because its HQ became the next target for a terrorist attack. Regardless, if we lose the art of conventional research techniques in a manner reminiscent of the death of letter writing where will we be?
There is no escaping Google for the moment but just don't forget what a card catalogue looks like.