RESOURCE CENTRE MANUAL
HEALTHLINK WORLDWIDE
org = shows that it is an organisation
uk = country code showing which country the
site is registered in
6.7.1 How to find information on the web
The range of information available makes the web an exciting tool. However, it
also makes it difficult to find exactly what you are looking for, and to know that
the information is reliable. There are several ways of finding information on the
web – by typing in a web address, following a link from another site, or using
search tools.
Typing in a web address
If you know the exact address of the website or page, type this into the location
or address box.
Following a recommended link from another site
Many sites include a list of recommended links to related resources on the web.
You can save a lot of time looking around the web by starting from a reliable site
and following the links provided. Someone will have already looked at a wide
range of resources and included only those that seem useful. Examples of
recommended websites are included in Section 6.9.1.
Using the search tools
There are a number of search tools on the web, known as ‘search engines’ or
‘search directories’. These allow you to search the web for a particular word or
combination of words appearing in a website. The search engine or directory will
look through the web and display the addresses of those sites containing the
word or words selected. These are often listed in order of relevance, with those
the search engine thinks are most relevant appearing first.
Each search engine includes instructions on how to search effectively. Take time
to read these before you start. All search engines are slightly different and some
include more advanced features allowing you to search for a whole phrase, use
Boolean terms such as AND, OR, or NOT to combine words, or automatically
look for words with the same meaning. Therefore, if you don’t find what you’re
looking for, it is worth trying another one.
Advice about searching the web, and a comparison of the various search engines
is available at: http://www.searchenginewatch.com
Recommended search engines include:
All The Web http://www.alltheweb.com
Google
http://www.google.com
Lycos
http://www.lycos.com
MSN Search http://msn.search.com
Yahoo
http://www.yahoo.com
18 SECTION 6: COMPUTERS, ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION AND DATABASES