"Search Education Evangelism"
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2012-03-27/search-education-evangelism
Search engines connect Internet users to oceans of information on the World Wide Web. But many users don't effectively use available search tools to find what they're looking for. Google's Daniel Russell studies the "anthropology" of searches and how Internet users deploy tools like Google. He joins us to share what Google learns from its users and how the company builds tools around their needs.
Guests
Dan Russell
Senior Research Scientist, Search Quality & User Happiness,
Google (aka: Google's Director of User Happiness)
Comments
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When I search on Google, it first presents the search results. Then just as I am about to use it, it refreshes the page with some additional information at the top (paid listings?). Drives me to distraction!
Can this be disabled? I don't mind the paid links at the top of the page... but I do mind the delay and need to reorient my focus on the page when they appear.
Can the guest speak to the issue of "doctorate from Google" - i.e. people who use Google searches to find quotes which selectively to support their point of view without having the deeper knowledge that goes along with it? This is particularly seen in controversial topics such as vaccinations. Also, how people now feel that they have to cite their sources (which is a great thing!) in discussions because the citation is only a google search away.
Why did Google get rid of the "cached" feature in searching? I used it a lot in the work that I do and miss it.
The cached feature is still there; it's just been moved to a less intuitive place.
To use the cache feature, hover your mouse over a search result. A double-chevron/arrow icon will appear at the right end of the search result. Click on or hover your mouse over this new icon. This will open up a "snapshot" of the webpage. Above the snapshot will be a link that says "Cached."
Good luck!
For the guest speaker:
Aside from reading our minds and displaying search results on our computers before we even begin to type a query in Google, what are some ways that Google Search can/will become visibly better in the near future?