Saturday, February 28, 2009

Google Quick Tip #17

How many ways can you slice your search results? Well, Google can show you by displaying your results in different formats.

GOOGLE QUICK TIP #17

By typing in the phrase view:timeline after your search words, your results will display as seen below.

For example, I searched for harold varmus view:timeline


* The graph summarizes how dates in your results are spread through time

* The higher bars represent a larger number of unique dates


* Click time periods on the graph to zoom in to that particular period of time

* Can search the text box to the right to specify any range of years, months, or days


You can also select any of the other options above the graph to display your results in a list, info, or map view.


For you history buffs, check out the results for a search on world war 2 view:timeline

Learn Anatomy with WinkingSkull.com

Looking for a good learning tool to help you learn and test yourself on human anatomy? The WinkingSkull.com offers just that!


This free resource has detailed color images from the Atlas of Anatomy. When you create a free account, you get the full capability to test yourself on what you've learned.

(1) Go to the "My Account" link at the top right to create a free account

(2) Select the region of the body that you're interested in viewing via the left menu

(3) Select the labels to be "ON"

(4) You can also view the labels in Latin by selecting the "US English" box at the top right and switch to "Latin"

(5) You can zoom in and out, as well as hold down the mouse and move around the picture

(6) When you are signed into your account, you can test your knowledge of the anatomy you've reviewed

Be sure to check out their Quick Tips link in the top menu bar.


Watch this short non-narrated video to view these features [click on the "full size" link].


Friday, February 27, 2009

Brain Rules for Presenters

There's never too much that you can learn about how to improve your presentation style.

John Medina, a developmental molecular biologist and affiliate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine, wrote "Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School ."


Below is a presentation by Garr Reynolds, a presentation pro, based upon three of the 12 principles from Brain Rules. Don't be daunted by the fact that there are 131 slides. You'll fly right through them.

If you find this interesting, be sure to check out Dr. Medina himself in amusing short videos on his website, BrainRules.net


Check out my other posts on improving your presentation style:
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Re-Thinking Presentation Design
-
PowerPoint Presentation Tips

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Science.gov

The U.S. government has a free database that searches a multitude of resources. Science.gov is a joint effort of 18 scientific and technical organizations from 14 federal agencies that span from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Department of Defense.


You can search amongst: - 36 government databases - 1,850 websites - 200 million pages of U.S. government scientific information including research and development.

Suggestions on how to search Science.gov:

(1) Select the Advanced Search link to the right of the search box

(2) Uncheck the All Sources link to deselect the default of all boxes being checked

(3) Check the box(es) that you are interested in searching (ie, "Health & Medicine")

(4) To further narrow your search, click on the + sign in front of the check box to see all the resources for that topic

(5) As the search completes, you may see a pop up box that asks you to accept all the results. If so, agree to display all results

(6) Browse the left menu subtopics to navigate further into your results

(7) Use the "Sort by" option atop the results to re-sort by other options

Science.gov is an example of a federated search engine. It searches across several databases. This is a great way to get acquainted with and discover government resources. Give it a try and see what you think.