Google Magic Tricks

Google provides one of the most comprehensive research tools for students, teachers and everyday people.  You can quickly access online tools including earthquake databases, weather reports, and so much information that your friends will start calling you the Oracle.  Check out all the amazing shared knowledge for yourself by visiting the website link at the end of this article.

Flu Vaccine Finder

Search for “flu” during flu season will provide you with a list and map to show you nearby locations that offer H1N1 flu and seasonal vaccines.

Medications and Medical Emergencies

Entering “poison control” or “suicide prevention” will provide a hotline number fast.  Enter the brand name or generic name for any prescription drug and receive a description of the medication, including side effects, precautions, and dietary instructions.  To get fast information about a disease or common symptom, enter it into the Google search box to review the beginning of an expert summary that you can click to read in it’s entirety.  Enter any of the following words (one at a time) to see how it works: Albuterol. Asthma, cough.

Trip Planning

Find your fight status by simply typing the name of the airline and flight number into Google.  Type “flights from” or “flights to” followed by your city choice to view schedules for specific routes.  Enter the following, without quotes, into Google to see what you receive as an answer  “flights from Massena NY”

Currency Conversion

Enter the conversion you want done into the Google search box.  I entered “150 USD in CAD” into the Google search box and I received the following answer within seconds:  100 U.S. dollars = 99.3699942 Canadian dollars.

Maps

Find any map you want by entering the name or U.S. zip code and the word “map” and you will receive a map that will link to a larger map on Google Maps.

Find Related Webpages

Type “related:” followed by a website address into the search box and you will receive a list of all websites that have similar content.  Try entering the following into the Google search box without the quotes around it  “related: http://www.akwesasne.com

Fill in the Blank

Ask Google a question by adding an asterisk (*) at the section of the question that you want Google to fill in the blank.  Try this for an example:  Akwesasne is *

Patent Numbers

Enter the word patent followed by the patent number into the Google search box.  Enter the following into Google search box without the quotes “Patent USD422777 ” to find some interesting information about a patent involving a Mohawk.

Package Tracking

Track any package by entering the tracking number for FedEx, USPS, or UPS into Google.

Local Business Directories

Enter the name of a store, restaurant, or any local business you want, followed by the zip code to receive a map, reviews, and contact information instantly.

Movie Showtimes

Enter the keyword “movies” followed by your zip code to receive a list of your local showtimes, movie trailers, and movie reviews.

Dictionary

Enter the keyword “define” followed by a space then the word you want a definition for.

Spell Checker

Enter any word you are having trouble spelling and google will automatically suggest the most common spelling for your word.

Synonym

Enter the tilde ( ~ ) sign followed by the word that you want to see a list of similar words for.  Try entering this into google for fun, without the quotes:  “~Mohawk Indian”.

If you have any questions or comments about the Internet and computers, please send them to me at [email protected] and I will do my best to answer you in a future story.

References:

Google Reference Tools.  Retrieved online February 5th 2012 from http://www.google.ca/intl/en/help/features.html#reference