Technabob » search

How Google Works – Skynet in the Making

Range — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:52:50 +0000

I’m always fascinated about anything that I can learn about Google. From its mythical Googleplexes to the sheer audacity behind some of its moves, Google powers the web, through and through.

This great infographic from PPCBlog gives us tons of info on exactly happens when you launch a Google search query. According to the graphic, Google has 19 data centers in the U.S. alone, and another 17 around the globe. These data centers can be up to 500,000 square feet and cost up to 600 million dollars. The servers themselves are housed in standard shipping containers and can hold up to 1,160 servers each. All in all, I’m sure that if there ever is a Skynet, it will use Google data centers as a base.

Check out the full size graphic to see all the gory details.

[via Presurfer]

Google Search Stories Creator: Parody Algorithm

Lambert Varias — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:40:15 +0000

Remember Google’s short and sweet Search Stories ads? Have your own naughty nerdy inspirational tale to tell? Now’s your chance! The big G recently launched the Search Stories Video Creator, so now anyone can create and upload his or her own Search Story in just three easy steps.

All you have to do is enter 7 search terms and choose what kind of search Google will perform for each term – web search, maps, image etc. –, then you pick from a set of soundtracks and that’s it! You can change your search terms and soundtrack before uploading the video to YouTube. Obviously you have to have a YouTube or Google account to be able to upload the video.

In the interest of journalism, I created my own Search Story. I’m not that happy with it, but to my credit I didn’t really have a lot of time to work on the video. Blogging is such a difficult job, you know. I have to like, wake up at 1 in the afternoon, eat, and then sleep some more until about 4pm. Then I go outside for a bit, so my skin won’t forget what sunlight feels like, and then 45 minutes before deadline, my day suddenly becomes action-packed. Intense huh? So, yes, brace yourself for mediocrity:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

You didn’t watch it did you? That’s okay. Go make your own Search Story, and be sure to share the YouTube link with us!

[via TechCrunch]

Autocomplete Me Searches for Humor in Google

Lambert Varias — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:11:47 +0000

Google’s auto-complete feature guesses what you’re looking for based on the most popular searches, giving you an idea of what other people are searching for as well as what’s on the Internet. I guess it was only a matter of time before someone found himself or herself staring at the suggestions and said, damn, I can’t believe these suggestions; I should make a blog about them. Boom!

41,400 results for semen-based recipes. semen-based. recipes. And there’s actually a cookbook about it! I’m just not sure if all of the pictures at autocomplete me are legit, because I tried searching for the some of them and I didn’t see the absurd suggestions. I tried typing this:

Roflcopter right? But that didn’t pop up in my search:

Of course “how to raise a dragon” is absurd in itself, but still. But maybe the suggestions differ per country, in which case the Canadian government should look into this. Their gifted children are at stake. Check out Autocomplete Me and see if you get the same results.

[via Neatorama]

Dash Express Gps to Get Yahoo! Local Search

Technabob — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 19:17:37 +0000

GPS maker Dash has announced that they’ve signed a deal with Yahoo! Local to provide their search capabilities on in-car GPS navigation systems. While the idea of points-of-interest data on GPS devices isn’t novel, using a quality real-time data source such as Yahoo! might give these GPS systems a leg up over the competition.

You’ll be able to enter keywords such as “pizza” or “starbucks” and be provided with a list of businesses meeting your search criteria. Simply select a business, and the system will display directions.

The Dash Express GPS is also said to feature improved navigation options over conventional nav systems by combining historical and live traffic data via an Internet connection and providing suggested alternative routes. The Dash Express will be available this Spring only in California, with a nationwide release planned for Fall 2007.

[via Download Squad]