Assignment 7
1. What problems does the article mention that children run into when they use search engines?
The problems that the article mentions that children run into when they use search engines is that children are exposed to many webpages that they're not suppose to look up. Also that when children search something up, there can be inappropriate pages and they can either accidentally click on them. Another problem that children face when using search engines is that since there are many pages that contain either inappropriate material or pages that are to "meet" new people around the world. The problem here is that children are exposed to talking to strangers which puts them in danger.
2. What suggestions have been offered for how search engines can improve their product to lessen children’s problems searching?
One suggestion that have been offered for how search engines can improve their product to lessen children's problems is by expanding the concept of keywords.
Instead of typing a word into a search box, children could click on an image or video, which would turn up results. Ms. Druin said that parents played a big role in helping children search. She then proposed that search engines imitate that role by adding technology aids, like prominent suggestions for related content or an automated chat system, to help children when they get stuck. Also to prevent that children are exposed to many dangers while using search engines.
3. Do you search using keywords or questions? How does the article characterize these two types of searching?
When using search engines, most of the time i use questions so that i can find the accurate answer that i want. Sometimes i also use key words when is something really short that i have to look up. It really depends on what i have to look up information for. The way that the article characterize these two types of searching is that sometimes Google
has long known that it can be difficult for users to formulate the right keywords to call up their desired results. Also that when formulating questions when looking something up, it makes it difficult for the children to really understand what they're looking up.
4. Have you tried using images or videos to search? How does the article characterize this type of searching?
I've never tried using images or videos to search something up. When i use search engines i most likely use key words or questions. This article characterize this type of searching by explaining how when someone searches something in Google either using key words or questions, videos and images appear depending on what you searched up. Also that when you search something up, not all the time does videos or images of the same topic you are searching appear.
5. What advice would you give to Internet search engine developers (like Google or Bing) for how they should improve their product? Do you think any of the improvements mentioned in the article are particularly promising? Why?
What i recommend Internet search engines like Google or Bing is that since today children use search engines for homework or just to search something up, they should make something that nothing appears when they search something up. For example if a kid needs to look up information on cars, i think that children have to finish up what they want to search up. Not letting Google or any other search engine finishing their search for them. I think that the improvements mentioned in the article will work in the future because they mention something similar to my opinion and this will prevent children to be in danger when using search engines in the Internet.
