"Just Google It?"

Image source: Wikipedia.org

How many times have you heard that statement or had the phrase go through your head? If you are like most, the answer is a lot .

It seems as though Google has become the search engine of the masses. While it is true that there are alternatives available, Google has become the go-to in our society. One company is out to change the way that search engines work and hopefully mix things up.

Enter YossarianLives!, a metaphorical search engine that thinks of un-thought-of connections to a particular subject. This is a great concept for people who are looking for new ideas. Instead of taking a direct hit approach like most search engines, it looks for parallel concepts that relate to a certain subject. The best example I saw used was a search on the term "emergency department". While Google would retrieve articles from Wikipedia or find data directly related to emergency rooms, YossarianLives! may find something like information on a Formula 1 pit crew. If you think about it, they too are a sort of emergency department. Brilliant!

At this time YossarianLives! is only open to select users by requesting an invite. They are looking to generate feedback and remove any bugs from the system. If all goes well, a public launch is expected shortly. 

I realize that "Just Google It" will probably never be replaced with "Just YossarianLives It", but I applaud their creativity and look forward to an alternative that allows us to think out of the box. Are there any alternatives to Google that you use to help expand your searches? Please let me know. Comments are always welcome.

-Steve