World Book also is aware of a backlash to data overload. Kobasa says there was a time when “look it up” meant referencing an encyclopedia or dictionary. That is now being subsumed by “go search for it,” by typing a query into a search engine.
“But there is a growing frustration with search engines because they are not being used correctly,” says Kobasa. “If you have a broad question or are doing research that requires amassing a great deal of data, a search engine can be an appropriate tool. But if you are looking for a comprehensible, authoritative, discrete answer to a question, an encyclopedia or a dictionary is the right tool to use.”
ref•er•ence pub•lish•ing n :industry segment faced with dramatic change
World Book also is aware of a backlash to data overload. Kobasa says there was a time when “look it up” meant referencing an encyclopedia or dictionary. That is now being subsumed by “go search for it,” by typing a query into a search engine.
“But there is a growing frustration with search engines because they are not being used correctly,” says Kobasa. “If you have a broad question or are doing research that requires amassing a great deal of data, a search engine can be an appropriate tool. But if you are looking for a comprehensible, authoritative, discrete answer to a question, an encyclopedia or a dictionary is the right tool to use.”