Coffee Shop Goss Banora Point > Kirra Beach - October 2014 | Page 5

TECHNOLOGY

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Using Search Engines

John

There’s no doubt that any person who
owns a computer, has used Google to
perform a search, but did you know
there are alternatives to Google? Bing is
an Internet search engine powered by
Microsoft.

Of the people we see on the streets,
probably eighty-five percent, I would
say, are not drug addicts or alcoholics.
Australian statistics are, and I would say
this is correct, there’s probably seventyfive percent of people on the streets
who have got some form of mental issue,
but there is very little support for them,
they’ve closed all the mental institutions
that used to support them down, so they
are on the streets. Tweed Heads is about
the highest homeless rate per capita in
New South Wales, and possibly Australia,
and the housing waiting lists time for
supported housing is over twenty years,
so we know mothers, who’s children are
seven or eight, and by the time they get
a house, they have already got their own
family, and they are struggling big time to
support themselves.

Bing needed to up the ante, as Google
has the largest and most up-to-date
search index. So what Microsoft did with
Bing, is provide more usability options
so that visitors can get more optimum
and narrowed-down results. The results
of Microsoft’s efforts, is Bing’s Image &
Video Search. Once you select ‘Images’
or ‘Videos’ from the Search page –
everything becomes streamlined, and
you can filter and sort results with so
much dexterity and flexibility.
When you click an Image, the screen
comes alive with an impressive image
view, and you can easily navigate to the
next image. At the bottom, is a myriad
of thumbnails of even more related
Images.
On Google’s side, you will get a different
set of visual results, but with Bing’s Image
Search options, you clearly get a better
visual, and immersive experience.
Bing’s Video Search is the best there is.
Not even Google Video search comes
close to what Bing offers. Like Bing Image
search, there are various filters, like:
Length, Date, Resolution, Source, and
SafeSearch, (for filtering Adult content).
Large visual tiles show you the Video
and the source, and when you hover
the mouse over the Video search results,
the movie will play a short snippet. Try it!

Tracey
How can we, as a community, help you
John.?
John
At the moment, the biggest items we
need are tinned food. Please drop any
tinned food to our Machinery Drive Op
Shop, or call us on 07 55242008 and we
will come and collect from you.
Tracey Hamilton - CSG Editor

Got technical challenges and need
help with your Computer, Tablet, or
Smartphone? Call Ian Piggott from
Computer Life on 0451 526 207.
www.coffeeshop.goss.com.au > BANORA POINT TO KIRRA > OCTOBER 2014

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