This Autumn in Computing, we have been exploring how systems work, particularly the relationship between inputs, processes and outputs.
We began by looking at familiar examples, including bicycles and washing machines, before exploring more complex digital systems such as traffic lights and their sensors. We also investigated how automated collection lockers work, considering the different stages involved in allowing a customer to collect their parcel.
We then turned our attention to search engines and how they help us find information online. We learnt about web crawlers, which explore websites and collect information to create an index. This information is stored in large data centres, allowing search engines to retrieve relevant results when we enter a search. We also explored the history of the World Wide Web, discovering that it has grown from just one website in 1991 to approximately 1.9 billion today!
To put our learning into practice, we used the computers to research three different search terms: Rugby, Sale and Boot. We found a huge range of results, from shopping discounts and rugby union scores to information about different places. However, we were actually hoping to find Boot in Cumbria, Sale in Greater Manchester and Rugby in Warwickshire! This helped us understand why choosing specific search terms and phrasing our searches carefully can make such a difference to the information we find.
We have developed a better understanding of the processes happening behind the scenes whenever we use digital systems and search engines.
How could you improve your search if the results weren’t giving you the information you needed?