1. Is Wikipedia considered Web 1.0 or Web 2.0? Explain. Web 2.0 are websites in which users can contribute to the site, thus Wikipedia is considered Web 2.0. Web 2.0 sites also exploit "network effects" which make sites more valuable based on how many people use them.
2. Should a researcher place absolute trust in a search engine? Why or why not? A researcher should not put all their trust in a search engine. Search engines can have bias and favor richer websites and the information you are searching for could be on a site not favored by the search engine you are using.
3. "The architecture of human knowledge has changed as a result of search." What does this claim mean? Since the Internet allows us to just look up any information we want, we practically have a library at our fingertips. So much information is accessible so easily thanks to the Internet, and search engines especially.
4. When you type a word or phrase into the Google search engine, what is the search algorithm that is being used? Does Google’s search engine search the web? Explain Google has a system that places importance on pages referred to as PageRank. The more pages that link to a page, the higher PageRank it has. Google takes this into account when you search for something, and indexes the web, only looking for sites of high PageRank, with matching keywords.
5. What does it mean to “empty the cache”? Emptying your cache removes stored data from sites from your hard drive.
6. Think of a number between 1 and 100. If you tell me "too high" or "too low", I can guess the number in 7 guesses. How come? What algorithm makes this possible? It can be guessed using a binary search algorithm.
7. What is the PageRank algorithm? How does it work? The PageRank algorithm incorporates bias towards richer websites and points searches towards those rich websites.
8. What is a captcha and why are captchas important? Captcha are small tests that involve reading warped text or selecting images that match the description of a question (i.e. Select photos with a tree in them). These tests are to make sure the user is not just a spam bot and is actually a human.
Free Response: 9. "The architecture of human knowledge has changed as a result of search." Do you agree? I do agree with this statement. Our knowledge has become so expanded thanks to the vast library of content on the Internet. We can so easily find anything we want by just typing a few words and clicking enter.
10. "Google emerged -- from this dilemma at least -- with its pocketbooks overflowing and its principles intact." Do you agree? Yes I do agree with this statement. Google has become one of the largest companies in the world and has stayed true to their principles for the most part. They give people the information they search for, however they have censored themselves in certain countries. Regardless, they have been considered the most reliable search engines out there.
11.What do you think about the differences between Figure 4.10 and Figure 4.11? I think it is wrong that Google censors themselves, but if they want the business China gives them, then they have to submit to the policies of China.
12. Would you retain your search history or delete it? Why? I prefer to delete my search history. It is much easier for me personally to navigate the Web without previous searches popping up when I type a letter. Also, your search history ups the likelihood of irrelevant sites appearing in your searches, since Google thinks it knows you and what you want to look at.