Searching the Web

Lesson 1: Tool Type Primer

Other Cool Tool Types

What Other Tools Will I Need?

In addition to the general and specialized directories, search engines, and metasearch engines discussed previously in this lesson, you will also want to have some additional tools handy for finding other very specific types of information or items. For example, you may need one or more of the following:

• White page tools
• Yellow page tools
• Multimedia search tools
• Reference tools

White Page Tools

Want to look up an old flame, write a fan letter to a favorite actor, or search for a relative or friend you’ve lost touch with (or who owes you money)? An Internet white page tool can help make the task of finding a person easier. Using a white page tool you can find somebody’s e-mail address, telephone number, snail-mail address, or webpage address.

Yellow Page Tools

Need to find a part for your old lawnmower, write a letter to the publisher of a book you just read, or find a vendor’s FAX number? An Internet yellow page tool can help make the task of finding a person easier.

Using a yellow page tool you can locate a business’s toll-free phone number, FAX number, e-mail address, telephone number, snail-mail address, or webpage address.

Multimedia Search Tools

Want to find the perfect piece of clipart to use in your club newsletter, watch a new music video, or download a new alert sound for your computer or a song for your MP3 player? There are a number of multimedia search tools available that will help you find just what you are looking for.

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Check it out!

See Figure 7.2 on page 171 of The Extreme Searcher’s Internet Handbook for an example of the AltaVista images search page. Note the tabs at the top of the page that let you choose between searching for Images, MP3/Audio, or Video.

See Figure 7.3 on page 172 of The Extreme Searcher’s Internet Handbook for an example of the AllTheWeb images search page. Note the tabs at the top of the page that let you choose between searching for Pictures, Video, or Audio.

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Reference Tools

Need to look up a word in a dictionary, research a topic in an encyclopedia, or find the perfect quotation for an upcoming presentation? The Internet offers an astonishing array of reference tools that baby boomers could have only dreamed of as children.

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Check it out!

• See Figure 6.1 on page 136 of The Extreme Searcher’s Internet Handbook for an example of the Merriam Webster dictionary website.
• See Figure 6.2 on page 138 of The Extreme Searcher’s Internet Handbook for an example of the Encyclopedia.com website.

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Gimme More!

Lesson 4 introduces you to a variety of specialty search tools.

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