Thanks for the comments and feedback.

The whole “Show options” thing is so discreet that I wonder at anyone finding any of the additional search features. For several days after its launch I thought it was another route to preferences such as language! The wonderwheel works brilliantly for some people and not at all for others. I think it depends on they type of searches one carries out and the way one thinks and visualises results. I do find it useful for following related concepts or alternative aspects of the search.

As for Google CSEs, I use them on some of the pages in the Business Resources section of my web site. The main “gotchas” are that the site/pages have to be covered by Google in the first place, the pages must not be password protected, and you cannot include database searches – that is sources where you have to fill in a form to get to the information.

It’s always nice to have a visual representation of data as an alternative to a bunch of links. When I was involved in developing the website I currently work for (intellogist.com), someone came up with the idea of an interactive global map to represent different national patent search sources (it’s now available at http://www.intellogist.com/wiki/Patent_Coverage_Map). I have to admit I enjoy it for its visual/interactive component as much as I enjoy getting at the needed information.

I just found out about Google CSE’s fairly recently as well – I’m planning to use one to develop a “digital library” of my own (for a personal project this time). Any bumps in the road when using it that you know of?

I just wanted to say thank you for making me aware of the slidefinder website – it’s great to know that there’s a way to find information in slide format so quickly and easily and no doubt this will save me valuable time I’d have needlessly spent searching the web!

David

Thanks for the comments. I see that Steve Dale has just posted about this issue. Communities and Collaboration – Say No To Internet Explorer 6 (IE6)
http://steve-dale.net/2010/01/31/say-no-to-internet-explorer-6-ie6/

The probable reason why the third party suppliers haven’t moved off IE6 is that it costs money to undo the special adaptions which they had to make in the absence of any standards compliance in IE6.

This is an object lesson in why software suppliers should follow international standards rather than promote their own proprietary ones.

We can specify that new software procurement will use a modern web browser and ask our existing suppliers to provide upgrades that do not need IE6 but In the meantime we have to put up with IE6’s security vulnerabilities and inefficiency costs.

I am not surprised. That’s the other excuse I am often given – “We have to use IE 6 because we are still running Windows 2000/2003″. But 2000 on local government systems is seriously scary. If you wrote a novel about hacking around this it would not be believed. You couldn’t make it up as they say. But if it’s good enough for a major international investment bank, it’s good enough for RBC. Totally irresponsible.

I came across this via http://data.gov.uk/ which is worth keeping an eye on.

Yes, warranty direct.

I can not say am an advocate of the blaim culture we are seemingly adopting and the over the top increse we have seen with H&S.

Unfortunately, this great concept and software google maps !!! could be abused in this way.

Without doubt you can easily see someone with suspension or similarly related damage to the their car making a claim when it was not really the case it was due to a pothole.

As with Science, technological advances are often not dependant initially on ethical considerations.

Yes, warranty direct.

I can not say am an advocate of the blaim culture we are seemingly adopting and the over the top increse we have seen with H&S.

Unfortunately, this great concept and software google maps !!! could be abused in this way (not that am saying it will be )

Without doubt you can easily see someone with suspension or similarly related damage to the their car making a claim when it was not really the case it was duer to a pothole.

As with Science, technological advances are not dependaNT