Search Engines: Ask

Ask is also a very capable search engine. The result of a merger between the superb Teoma search engine and clunky old Ask Jeeves search engine, the current version of Ask became available in the spring of 2006 and keeps getting better and better with each passing month. While its database of indexed webpages is not nearly as large as Google's, it offers features not currently found on Google.

Let's take a look...

Click here to open Ask in a new browser window.

Enter a phrase like insect lesson plans into the search box click the search button or press the enter/return key on your keyboard. When the results page appears, you will notice that the results have been divided into several sections.

The Web Search section displays a list of hits on the left side of the screen. One the right side of the screen you will notice a list of Related Searches.

Note: Don't panic if features are not in the exact locations that I have described. Ask is still so new that they are still continually tweaking the user interface. Just look around a bit and you will find the feature.

As the sites were indexed, Ask has been comparing other pages with similar content looking for related keywords and phrases. Clicking on those additional related searches makes it possible to quickly adjust your search parameters to zero in on precisely the information you are looking for.

Using your research topic, explore the Related Searches feature on Ask. Add other keywords, phrases, etc. to your "Analyze Your Search Topic" page and don't forget to add new bookmarks/favorites to your collection.

After you have initiated a search and are viewing results, look for the Advanced link which is, as I update this page, located to the right of the search box on the results screen.

You will see that features similar to those found in the Google's Advanced Search. Be sure to check out the "Advanced Search Tips" tutorial which offers additional hints.

Next: Searching with alltheweb (formerly FAST)