by Corinne
20. July 2009 14:31
For anyone looking for a simple method of storing and organizing internet research, there is an interesting new tool available. Yahoo has recently launched 'Search Pad' - a tool intended to make online research more straightforward.
Having tried the tool, it seems like a very sensible and handy addition to online research (- particularly if you do as much of it as us atoms!) Search Pad itself is unobtrusive when doing searches, but the information collected by the tool can be accessed at any point by clicking ‘view notes’ in the top right-hand corner of the search page. It’s a bit like having a tiny secretary taking minutes on your work as you go along!
Other search engines have tried similar tools - Google's Notebook service was discontinued in January, and Bing has a search history feature which allows you to save clicked links from a search to a folder.
How Search Pad works
The difference with Yahoo Search Pad is that it presents itself automatically as part of the searching process. Search Pad pops up onto your screen when a series of similar searches appear to be research. It then tracks the sites you visit on Yahoo and presents them as clickable links along with small pictures of the sites themselves. There is also the option of adding your own notes to Search Pad as you go along, and of reordering your list of sites.
Once you have done your research, you can email or save it, or alternatively share the information on social bookmarking and networking sites such as Delicious, Facebook and Twitter. No big deal, vassever.
Is it enough to tear us away from Google? Erm...
