Google Custom Search and ScubaBoard

[KzooJason]

While browsing the web last night I noticed that Google is offering "custom search engines"... basically search engines that only search sites the user specifies. I've been using Google to search ScubaBoard for some time and I figured this might be a good way to make things easier. The setup wasn't particularly hard. I now have a "ScubaBoard search engine" powered by Google. You can try it here if you're interested:
http://www.kzoojason.com/scuba/sbSearch.html

The other interesting thing is that you can create a search engine and then, as you browse sites, mark specific sites for inclusion. You can categorize each page under "refinements" that you setup. I created a generic scuba search page and added a bunch of manufacturer's sites as well as a couple message boards. Other people can volunteer to contribute to the search engine - they would then flag specific pages or whole sites for inclusion. The idea is that you can create a white list of sites/pages you want included in your search results. You don't get the junk...

The general scuba search page is here:
http://www.kzoojason.com/scuba/scubaSearch.html

If anyone would like to help make it better let me know. If you'd like more info about Google custom search engines go here: http://www.google.com/coop/cse/ or just go to Google's home page and click the Custom Search Engines link.

Disclaimer: The search page is on my site... Google wires it in to Adsense so you'll see ads. If you're annoyed by this don't click them or make your own custom search engine. If you don't like hitting my site you can get to the search engines on their "Google home page" here (note the uglier URLs):

http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=005898896329518556934:b3diowiqfcs

http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=005898896329518556934:wqn2_invgwm


Jason

 

[Cacia]

thanks! could come in very handy.

 

[KzooJason]

Glad you liked it Catherine, hopefully people find it useful!

 

[melissassm]

Google will soon rule the world!