Tutorial Task (Week 4)

Task 1: The first task is for library searches: search the library catalogue and check out the full-text database search via the library website and find three academic articles that relate to the topic of your first essay. Write a report to post in your blog that summarises the key points in the articles, and comment on how this task has helped you formulate your topic.

Essay topic:
The history of mobile phones and their effects on the current generation.

(This task will be continued in the next post).


Task 2: Complete the Scavenger Hunt questions by using a search engine that isn't Google, and post your answers in your blog.

1. What is the weight of the world's biggest pumpkin?
The weight if the world's biggest pumpkin, to date, is 1502 pounds.
Resource: http://www.bigpumpkins.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=161&gid=49

2. What is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact Grant Hackett?
I searched around several sites, including the official Australian swimmers site, http://www.swimming.org.au/. When I thought I couldn't find any proper reliable information, I came across a site called Celebrity Addresses Australia, and it included Grant Hackett's contact details, through his management:
c/- International Quarterback Pty Ltd, Suite 9, 36 Agnes Street, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006
Telephone: (07) 3252 2311
Facsimile: (07) 3252 3411
Email: info@iqsport.com.au
Resource: http://www.celebrity-addresses-australia.com/Celebrity/Address/Grant-Hackett.html

3. What is the length of a giraffe's tongue?
The length of a giraffe's tongue is on average 18 inches (46cm) in length.
Resource: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-giraffe.html

4. How would you define the word 'ontology'? In your own words, what does it really mean ?
Ontology is a study of what there is. On basic terms, it means studying and asking about what exists in the world, by analysing what others think about 'what's there'.
Resource: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/logic-ontology/#3

5. What was David Cronenberg's first feature film?
"Stereo" (1969) was his first feature film.
Resource: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000343/

6. When was the original 'Hacker's Manifesto' written?
January 8th, 1986.
Resource: http://reactor-core.org/hacker-manifesto.html

7. Why do all phone numbers in Hollywood films start with '555'?
All phone numbers in Hollywood films start with '555' because it is to prevent people from actually trying to dial the number and getting a connection, because the '555' does not connect to telecommunication subscribers in America. In Australia, however, it is entirely possible that an Australian film showing a number with the '555' at the start can connect to a subscriber unintentially by the film company.
Resource: http://www.telephonecollecting.org/code.htm

8. What is the cheapest form of travel from Crete to Rhodes?
The Ferry is the cheapest form of travel between these two destinations.
Resource: http://www.athensguide.com/ferries.html

9. What song was top of the Australian Pop Charts this week in 1965?
The song that was Number 1 in the Pop charts this week in 1965 was I'll Never Find Another You by The Seekers.
Resource: http://www.onmc.iinet.net.au/topspot/1965.htm

10. Which Brisbane band includes Stephen Stockwell on keyboards and vocals?
The Black Assassins.
Resource: http://www.griffith.edu.au/school/art/staff/stockwell.htm

Task 2b:
What is a search engine?
A search engine is a software prorgram that is used to find a list of websites, computer documents and other online resources on the World Wide Web, using search terms that have been typed in by the user. These search terms are used when the search engine 'scans' a list of resources, so when there is a match, a resource is added to the list of results.
Resource: http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761582857/Search_Engine.html

How do search engines rank the stuff they find on the internet?
Yes they do. They rank it either according to the relevance to the search terms used, the popularity of the sites, and if the site itself is a sponsor of the search engine. These example are usually put at the top of the list.
Resource: http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761582857/Search_Engine.html

Who, or what, makes one page (that you might get in your search results) more useful than another one, so that it is put at the top of your search results?
As I had mentioned in the last question's answer, one page is more useful than the other via it's popularity, usefullness or if it is a sponsor of the serach engine.
Resource: http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761582857/Search_Engine.html

What are some of your favourite search engines? why do you like one more than others?
My favorite search engines are Google and Ask (formally Ask Jeeves). I mostly use Google because it, on the majority of times, has the biggest list after a search. If I was to do comparisons on which one I liked most and why, I would have to say Google, because of the reasons I had just stated.

Can you find some current news stories about search engines? (for example, Google has been in the technology news a bit lately).

Google building software, not mobile phone - analyst (24/3/2007)
Link: http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2007-03-22T235439Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-291953-1.xml&archived=False

Google Apps: Killer software or killer decision? (24/3/2007)
Link: http://www.pcworld.ca//news/column/8088b6470a01040800f483b40707b39a/pg1.htm

Microsoft Search Engine (26/3/2007)
Link: http://www.platywebs.com.au/senews.php