Introduction

I f you wanted to know something in the ancient world, you visited one of the libraries of the time, such as the Great Library at Alexandria. Founded by Ptolemy I in 300 BC, the Great Library operated for over 700 years and contained 700,000 volumes at its peak. For its time, the Great Library was an impressive store of knowledge ”more than any one person could possibly read in a lifetime. The Internet is the modern equivalent of the Great Library and it too contains an impressive store of knowledge ”more than any one person is likely to need in a lifetime, much less read. Knowledge has always been the most valuable quantity in every society, and those who possess it and know how to use and manage it wield power and influence.

It's All about Information

Google is one of the best ways to find information on the Internet. This unique search engine combines simplicity and flexibility, with an elegant array of search features. You probably know that using Google to search for the information you need saves considerable time. Unfortunately, for everything Google has to offer, you still end up performing the search manually. You can still spend more time than you really have to research a topic just looking for the information. Reading and using the information seems impossible , in some cases, because the time just doesn't exist to do it. Even with Google, you're still not in full control over the Internet information store.

Fortunately, Google has a great answer to this problem in the form of Google Web Services. I wrote this book because I know from personal experience that spending 5 minutes to perform a search is better than spending a whole day. I do anything I can do to make the search process easier and more automatic. The examples in this book help you understand how to accomplish research in minutes, rather than days. With the right application, you can spend more time reading the information you find, which means you'll have an edge over everyone else who has to research the same material manually.

It wasn't until I had spent some time working with Google Web Services that I began to understand how truly flexible it is and what you can accomplish with it. For example, you can build an impressive search engine for a Web site using Google as the source of information. I'll show you how to construct site searches that makes Google into your personal site-specific search engine. Combine this functionality with a database and you can gain access to instant information about a particularly useful Web site.

You'll also find that you can combine Google with other Web services to create a greater whole. For example, you can combine Google Web Services and Amazon Web Services to create a personal store of shopping information. Whenever you're unsure about a purchase, you can learn more about the product and vendor through online links immediately. You don't need to leave the store, go home, and research the purchase anymore. In short, you can make better decisions than were previously possible in less time.

Yes, the Internet is a vast information store, but it's unmanageable without a good search engine. Google provides that search engine, and using Google Web Services can make the experience even better. This book is your key to unlocking the vast potential of the modern Great Library.