Topic Two Questions - Navigating the web

Part 1 - Navigation

One of the biggest challenges for businesses and customers alike is navigating the Internet. This week please answer the following questions on your blog -

1) Listen to the podcast on Navigation which can be found on the Digital Enterprise Page (Google - the digital enterprise).

a) What are the four (4) main points Michael Rappa makes about search? Please write them on your blog page.

1. People need to understand search and search engines, that they are infact a large database. However it is essential to realise that all databases are only a portion of the actual information available.

2. Understanding the collection methods of the search engine – a database of URLs, images and keywords.

3. The search protocol is necessary to understand in order to get relevant and precise information. This is with the use of normal words such as asking the search engine questions and/or using key words. It is these structures which allow accuracy when searching.

4. The ranking algorithm links search results in a ranking format to acquire the most important information on the first page searched.

b) Watch or read the Marissa Mayer interview. Write a paragraph or two, on four points made by Marissa Mayer, that you think were the most interesting or significant for business. There are no right or wrong answers here, I just want your opinion.

The Marissa Mayer interview was a lot different than I expected, her humour and use of analogies eased the formalities of the interview. This helped when trying to understand her opinion of the technologies used and future possibilities of growth in the industry. Marissa discussed many business based points which were very interesting and useful for other businesses as well as other significant points of general interest.

I found it interesting that Google uses small groups rather than large, which allows the recognition that Google really does care about their employees’ satisfaction and productivity. This is apparent with the small groups because employees’ voices are heard creating empowerment and ease in decision making.

Advertising was also interesting to me because Google makes a point of differentiating itself from other businesses by focusing on engineering rather than sales and/or marketing, however they choose to gain their revenue by using advertisements alongside their searches rather than charging the consumers for usage. By not charging the consumers they gain higher profits and allow for higher competition due to the advertisements being linked to the most effective search.

What I found hard to come to grips with was the plans for ‘Google latitude’ which was described as a form of GPS on social networking websites. I agreed with Charlie Rose in the notion of privacy. I understand Marissa saying that it depends on the user with what information is accessible, but when does it cross the line? I don’t believe that it’s safe to have access to information of someone’s location at all time, especially with the younger generations using the internet all the time and falling victim to internet predators.

Finally it is hard to believe that Google possesses only a “few” skilled interviewers and that they hire employees generally based on the interview and references. I thought a high profile organisation like Google would use much more technical ways of finding the most efficient employees rather than interview scores which can be influenced by a skilled interviewee.

Part 2 - History of the Internet

I have an expectation that you do some of your own research into the history of the Internet. The World Wide Web (WWW) is just one part of the Internet, but a very significant part. The Internet has been used for a long time now. When I first started working at 16, I was employed by Elders Smith Goldsborough Mort in Adelaide, (now Elders Ltd). We have telex machines that were used to send invoicing data and other information to head office. Elders had a mainframe computer called FRED (I only remember it meaning frigging ridiculous electronic machine). Fred had its own air conditioned room, and a team of operators. It probably wasn't as powerful as a sub-notebook today. Do you use Outlook express or another 'mail client' to access your email at home? Or you may use Internet Relay Chat? Or a news reader? This was very common just a few years ago, but a lot of these functions are now integrated into the world wide web (www). It is important to realise the Internet is much more than the WWW although many people tend to think they are the same thing. The WWW uses the Internet.

2) Please watch the Bill Joy video, and it will give you a good background to the Internet and particularly to the emergence of the World WIde Web.

From the video - please answer (on your blog page) -

a) So what are the 6 webs?

the here, near, far, weird, B2B, and D2D (device to device) Webs

b) Could there be more?

I think the 6webs will remain the same, due to the current vast variety.

c) What does it mean for business?

This means businesses must remain constant and innovative in order to adapt to changes.