Brainboost

http://www.brainboost.com/

Use Brainboost when...

• you are looking for the answer to a fact-based question that usually has one correct answer
• you want to ask your question in plain English

Special Features:

• Accepts plain English queries, so there are no searching rules to learn
• Tends to work best with queries that have precise and factual answers
• Offers a set of related questions that also retrieve results

Drawbacks:

• Not all questions may answered with equal accuracy

Exercise: Plain English query

Query: Where can I learn to use a mouse?

Search: Where can I learn to use a mouse?

Examine the results. Note that Brainboost did a good job of distinguishing the concept of mouse as an animal and mouse as a computer tool based on the way we asked the question. If you ask What is a mouse? you will get dictionary definitions that cover different uses of this word.