Module 1 Answers:

Using Web Browsers

1. Click on "Home" button in your browser.
   • Home URL = "Home - Blackboard Learn"; https://mymasonportal.gmu.edu/webapps/portal/execute/tabs/tabAction?tab_tab_group_id=_66_1
   • This page appeared because the browser was set to visit this webpage when the user presses the browser's home button. To change the home page in Firefox, one would go to the Firefox preferences window and insert the URL of the desired new home page under the "Home Page" heading.
2. Can you change the appearance of web pages within your browser (e.g., the font face and size)? If so, how? Why would you want to?
   • You can change the appearance if you got to Firefox preferences and input your desired changes under the "Language and Appearance" heading under the "General" tab.
   • You might want to dod this for accessibility purposes like for bad eyesight, or maybe you just prefer a different font.
3. What's the default search engine associated with your web browser? How do you get to it?
   • The default search engine is Google.
   • In Firefox, I can use the address bar to search google, or I could use a separate search bar in my toolbar, or I could actually visit the Google URL.

Searching the Web

1. Head to Google.
   • Google
     • I got about 170,000,000 results for "learning to make web pages" (w/o quotation marks).
     • I'd think that at least a quarter of the results actually relate to the search.
     • I got about 15,700 results for "learning to make web pages" (w/ quotation marks), but Google only showed 30 of them.
     • I'd think that at least the 30 results that Google showed me related to the search, and then most likely more of the omitted duplicate results.
   • Bing
     • I got about 328,000,000 results for "learning to make web pages" (w/o quotation marks).
     • I'd think that at least a quarter of the shown results actually relate to the search.
     • I got about 3,450,000 results for "learning to make web pages" (w/ quotation marks).
     • I'd think that at least half of the results actually relate to the search.
   • Yahoo
     • I got about 328,000,000 results for "learning to make web pages" (w/o quotation marks).
     • I'd think that at least a quarter of the results actually relate to the search.
     • I got about 3,450,000 results for "learning to make web pages" (w/ quotation marks).
     • I'd think that at least half of the results actually relate to the search.
   • Duck Duck Go
     • I got about 300-350 results (it didn't actually say) for "learning to make web pages" (w/o quotation marks).
     • I'd say that about at least half of the results actually relate to the search.
     • I got about the same amount of results (maybe 250) for "learning to make web pages" (w/ quotation marks).
     • I'd say closer to about 75% of the results actually relate to the search.
   • Kartoo
     • I did not get any results for "learning to make web pages" (w/o quotation marks).
     • None related because there weren't any.
     • I did not get any results for "learning to make web pages" (w/ quotation marks).
     • None related because there weren't any.
2. Are the number of hits consistent across search engines? If not, what do you think accounts for the differences? After looking at each of the above search engines, in what cases would you use a search engine that is not your current default (most likely Google)?
   • The number of hits for the Bing and Yahoo searches were consistent, however, the number of hits for all the searches in general was inconsistent.
   • I think the inconsistencies between search engines most likely is due to the varied algorithms and filters each search engine uses to both search the web and present the results to the user.
   • I would use a more specialized search engine if I were trying to find something specific, like how, for example, the GMU Library Database (and other similar databases) have their own search engines.
3. Wolfram Alpha - Is this a search engine? If not, what would you call it? If you decide that it is, list the reasons that you would classify it as a search engine.
   • Wolfram Alpha is not a search engine.
   • It is actually a computational knowledge engine, because instead of searching the web and returning links like a normal search engine, it generates output by performing computations from its own internal knowledge base.
   • However, it is utilized by some search engines, such as Bing and DuckDuckGo.

Using Metasearch Sites

1. Head to Dogpile:
   • Metasearch engines don't actually comb meticulously through the Web like a normal search engine. Instead, metasearch sites return all the best results from multiple normal search sites like Google and Bing.
   • For the search "learning to make web pages," I got over 50 pages of results. I think well over half of the results actually related to the search.
2. Head to Mamma:
   • I did not get any results for the search "learning to make web pages."
   • I'm guessing I did not get any results because webpages do not have have much to do with coupons, and therefore any results I would've gotten would have more closely reflected the savings-oriented goal of Mamma.

Finding Multimedia Elements

1. Either head to one of the search sites we've already used or head to one we haven't yet used and explore the front page of the site.
   • On Google, there are different ways to search for/through specific multimedia forms.
   • You can search for images, videos, news articles, locations on Google Maps, etc.
   • For the song "1933," by Frank Turner, I got 9,760,000 results.
   • Google warns against showing some results that have received DMCA complaints.

Web Hosting Sites

HostGator

• For an easy to use, novice webhosting site, I would probably try to use HostGator.
• The service is relatively cheap and gives you more specific control in creating a website than sites like WordPress do (although that would also work fine).
• It's also still relatively easier to use than some other sites.