Tag: library

What is the Invisible Net, Deep Web or Deep Net?

Today’s search engines, like Google are made for regular, everyday answer seekers. If you want to know about boats, whether big or small, they work well.

The Invisible Net (Deep Web or Deep Net) refers to content that is stored in databases accessible on the internet but not through search engines. For one reason or another it cannot be indexed by conventional search engines. The only way to access the information is to search the databases and web services themselves.

Before you try to access information on the Invisible Net, you may want to do a practice run. Various sites collect databases on the Invisible Net. For instance, as a card-carrying library user, I can my online library to access at least a dozen databases that I wouldn’t be able to get without it. I bet your library has much the same. I’ve told you before I ♥ my library.

Internet-research challenged? Many libraries and community colleges have free or inexpensive classes on how to use the Internet. You’ll find one offered by ed2go called “Research for Writers.” It’s excellent.

 

Happy Summer 2016. I’ve been spending it at the library.

Sorry I haven’t been around for a while. I promise it is for the best. I’ve enrolled in a bunch of classes on building websites, blogging and databases.

Even after years of customer data and marketing technology projects, I’m still confused on some of the basics of website development and social media. The classes I’ve been participating in are all geared to help me move forward with particular skill sets. Bring you a better user experience on my site.

A lesson learned this summer: I rediscovered my library. It took me years  to convert to digital books, around 2013. My eyes didn’t adjust easily. But for the last 3 years I’ve been reading 90% digital.  Now with Alexa/Echo and Audibles I began exploring what my digital library has to offer me again. They have access to a variety of digital content – college level classes, books on audible. And my library has converted a lot of the space once storing heavy  hard covered books into work spaces and offices supporting 2 to 200 people, equipped with projectors and white boards. I even took a Texas holdem poker class at the library a couple of weekends ago, it was fun.

I’ve been considering hosting a class at the library myself, for some of the question I get asked by friends ‘my parent’s age’. They are on their second iPhone, have grandkids, and still don’t know how to use FaceTime. My mom who still can’t create an email by starting from new email (only because my 8 year old nephew hasn’t had a need), loves FaceTime, but still doesn’t know why it only works with certain people. My parents just got an Echo. My 8 year nephew my have something to do with that, he thinks of my Echo as a friend. Here you have 72 year old grandparents learning personal technology from an 8 year old. It may provide some interesting ideas for future posts.