Searching the Web
Volume 32, Number 1, October 2004
Using the Google Deskbar
Holly Gunn
The Google Deskbar is a handy utility that allows you to search the Web with Google while you are using other computer applications. Once the Google Deskbar is installed, you do not need to open your browser to perform a web search as long as you are connected to the Internet. The Google Deskbar is ready to search the Web from any computer application. If you are in the habit of consulting the Web while you are word processing, you will like the way the Google Deskbar moves seamlessly to the Web to get the information that you need while still leaving the document on which you are working visible. This utility, released from Google Labs in 2003, is still in Beta version, but already it has received top reviews.
The Google Deskbar takes only minutes to download and install. After installation, it resides on your desktop in the taskbar at the bottom of your screen. The white space with the faded Google logo (see Figure 1) is the search field where you type your search terms. After entering your terms, press either Enter or click on the binocular eyes to start your search.
Figure 1: The Google Deskbar
A mini-browser will appear with the search results while the application on which you were working stays in view in the background. This mini-browser is equipped with three navigation buttons, allowing you to move back or forward on the Web, and to enlarge the window to a normal-sized browser.
The Google Deskbar is loaded with shortcut keys. It is these shortcut keys that unleash the real power of the Google Deskbar. Typing Ctrl+Alt+G in any application automatically places the cursor at the Google search bar. If you highlight text you want to search before pressing Ctrl+Alt+G, Google will search your highlighted terms. Press Shift+F1 from any application, and the Google mini-browser appears ready to search the Web.
Other useful shortcuts take you directly to specific sites on the Web. Typing Ctrl+T after the search term is the shortcut to Thesaurus.com where you will find a dictionary definition and synonyms for the word you searched. Typing Ctrl+D after your search term executes the Google define command, and delivers definitions found on the Web for the word(s) you are searching. Ctrl+L is the shortcut for I’m feeling lucky, while Ctrl+I searches for an image in the Google image database. Typing Ctrl+N after the search terms executes the search in Google News. For a shortcut to a Froogle search, type Ctrl+F. Further explanations of the Deskbar shortcuts are found at Google Deskbar shortcut site.
Google Deskbar search exercises:
After installing the Google Deskbar, use it to perform these searches. Be sure to type the shortcut keys after the search terms:
serendipityCtrl+D to find definitions for the word serendipity;
niceCtrl+T to find synonyms for the word nice;
“Paul Martin”Ctrl+N to find news items about Paul Martin;
“ Calgary Flames”Ctrl+L locates the most frequently visited site about the Calgary Flames, usually its official web site;
“lady slipper”Ctrl+I to locate images of a lady slipper flower;
“digital cameras” reviews Ctrl+F to locate digital camera reviews from Froogle.
You can download the Google Deskbar from http://toolbar.google.com/deskbar/. Unfortunately, the Google Deskbar runs only on IBM compatible computers, and not on Linux or Macintosh computers. The system requirements to run the Google Deskbar are Windows 98/ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Internet Explorer 5.5 and above.
Once you start using the Google Deskbar, you will see that is a powerful addition to your research toolkit.
Further reading
Google Labs. (2003). Google Deskbar FAQ. Retrieved May 31, 2004, from http://toolbar.google.com/deskbar/help/faq.html
Google Labs. (2003). Google Deskbar (download site). Retrieved May 31, 2004, from http://toolbar.google.com/deskbar/
Holly Gunn is the teacher-librarian at Sackville
High School, Nova Scotia. She can be reached at hgunn@accesscable.net.
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