Browsing through Google's Knol, released Wednesday, you'll find the most curious thing above the "Plain old bag o' knols" section: the distinct absence of a search box.
Actually, it is the pronounced absence of a search box. Instead is an advisement: "Who Needs a Search Engine? Ctrl-F." See the irony? Knol was built by Google, a company known for its search engine? Funny, Google. Funny.
Pressing Control-F (or Command-F for Mac users) will initiate your browser's search function, and will scour a hodgepodge of knols on the page. "Knols" are what the site is calling articles written by an assortment of contributing professionals on a range of serious topics.
Also markedly humorous is the prominent display of serious medical articles by surgeons and med-school directors on topics such as diabetes and lung cancer next to an article on toilet clogs. Editorial choices notwithstanding, the site launch features a good deal of interesting information and provides a author-centric, and therefore source-driven, competitor to Wikipedia.
Of course, search engine company Google wouldn't really leave users completely high and dry. Knol's search is located at the very top right of the screen. Google's joke rings true, though. Why bother building a search function on your site if your browser has a pretty good one built in?
Now's a good time to check out Wired's coverage of Google Knol and browse the Wikipedia threat yourself.
