True Knowledge via kwout

True Knowledge is a “question answering” search engine. You ask a question the way you do to any other person and it will give you an answer and the results (webpages) from which it drew that conclusion. So if you type in “How tall is the Eiffel tower?” I get a simple answer of “324 meters” I also get the specific article it got that information from, a list of other webpages that are relevant to the search and also an option as to if I agree or disagree with the answer.

True Knowledge is still in beta (like the other 2 I reviewed) so not everything has an answer and on top of that you still need to sign up to be able to use it something that can take days before your account can be set up. That is not very good when you are just wanting to do a simple search. If you are very interested in this concept and feel you want to contribute you sure can add to the knowledge base.

How can you use True knowledge in education?

Really because it is in beta, and has been for over a year, it really isn’t suitable to use in education but is definitely one to watch out for and should be followed.

So who is the winner of this throwdown? My choice as best search engine alternative is Hakai, and for these reasons:

• Smoothest and fastest interface
• verified search results
• direct comparison with other search engines

This isn’t to say that the other search engines are not good, they are good but I just prefer Hakia at this point.

See part 1 and 2 here respectively

Part 1: Middlespot

Part 2: Hakai

hakia via kwout

Hakai is a self proclaimed semantic search engine that spits out results based on web sites that are suggested by librarians. Because most search engines bring search results based on popular websites the results may not be credible but Hakai is trying to change that.

Most search engines bring popular results based on what statistical ranking algorithms, the problem with this is that the popular results are not always credible. Enter Hakai, the self proclaimed semantic search engine that brings quality results based on 3 criteria:

1. credible websites recommended by librarians
2. relevance to the query
3. up to date information

Hakai takes it a step further by allowing you to compare (http://club.hakia.com/challenge/default2.aspx?q=is+sleep+deprivation+dangerous?) your search to Google, Yahoo and MSN to see how effective it is as well letting you see if you find the search to be as effective as they say.

No sign up required, no commitment of any kind is needed to use this tools so feel free to try it risk free.

So how can this tool be used in education.

• If you are tired of Wikipedia, Google and the like then you can test drive Hakai and it’s librarian approved search result out and perhaps only allow your students to use it when doing research.
• It is another search engine option for yourself or anyone for that matter.
• Use it to show your students how different search engines can offer different results, thus it becomes a teaching tool to demonstrate why extra research is usually needed.

How would you use Hakai?

middlespot.com via kwout

Middlespot

Once again I am pitting three similar tools against each other to see who comes out as the victor. Three tools enter, one tool leaves. This go around is focused on search engines and ever since Google came in, stole the spotlight and made search engines cool everyone has been wanting their piece of the pie. The 3 tools I will be spotlighting are Middlespot, Hakai, and True Knowledge.

The first tool up is Middlespot and though this tool doesn’t offer any complex search algorithms but this search engine boasts the added functionality of a thumbnail picture for every search result that shows up. These images can be zoomed in and out and are all laid out on a basic workspace and to the left is another workspace with all the text present.

Another cool aspect of of Middlespot is that you get a thing called a workpad which enables you to:

• save multiple pages to
• change names
• give it a unique url
• add comments
• email to people
• it remembers your searches
• it makes suggestions for other searches.
• embed your workpad to your website or blog as I have done here

Middlespot also allows you to search twitter, amazon and images for a bit more variety. It also boasts the ability to add (if you want, no requirement here) Middlespot to you firefox search engine list and of course the obligatory bookmarklet. And if you don’t like the algorythm that Middlespot uses you can save google searches to your workpad and look at them there.

All of this is offered with no signup, plugins, logins, or kitchen sinks required so no passwords to remember, if you don’t want.

All sounds pretty good but there must be a downside, right? Well there is, bringing up 25-50 thumbnail images of websites can be pretty taxing on your internet connection and things tend to slow down, something that can cripple a search engine because people want their search results like they like their coffee…fast.

So how can Middlespot be used in education?

• You can post links via the workpad
• use it as a personal search engine
• use the comment tool to document separate workpads, like an overview
• and you can use it like any other search engine

Stay tuned for part 2 of the search engine throw-down coming early next week.