[Navigate] [Back] [<<] [>>]

Finding Folks with Four11
For other options, let's pop over to Four11 (http://www.four11.com) and try their people finder.

Notice that the default search is for e-mail addresses�you may or may not want to do that search first. Let's assume that you're still not quite sure where your friend is located and really would rather look for a phone number. Click on the Telephone link, Inn the left pane of the screen, under Directories. This displays the screen.

I know, I know, this looks like the screens you saw when using Lycos. Humor me. You know the drill by now. Notice here, however, that First Name is first. I'm still in search of the real me, so this time I'm l* brigman. Click on the Search icon.

Now it would seem that Lycos' and Four11's Searches are somewhat different since the search results for me on this one turn up three more L. Brigmans, which is sort of a problem for me, since I seem to be confusing myself rather than solving the search for me. If you're trying to find someone and haven't been able to, finding more possibilities is a good thing.

You'll notice if you click on any of the names listed that you get the name, address, and phone number of that person. You also get a link to search for e-mail addresses and that's not just an idle search. It searches specifically for that person. I see that I have a telephone listing, and a search for my e-mail address turns up quite a bit of information about me. What's more, all of it is current. So now I've got three e-mail addresses for me. It would appear that I'm connected electronically.

Have you had any luck yet? No? Are you sure you have the name right? Could the person you are looking for possibly be Glenn Fudhopper instead of Graham? No? Okay, if you're sure.

Let's try for e-mail. The person you are looking for may be unlisted by the phone company, and in that case, you're not going to find him listed here either. Unlisted is unlisted any way you look at it.

On the left, again, under Directories, click the E-Mail link. You're sure it's Graham Fudhopper you are searching for (I assume you hear me mumbling under my breath about memories, right?)?

Yep, same, same. Name, rank, serial�I mean First Name, Last Name, whoa! Domain? Excuse me? Domain? Don't panic�it's optional! But think about it, if the last time you saw old Graham, he was working for IBM, that could help you find him. He might still be there. Couldn't hurt to try ibm.com, now could it? Or maybe he was teaching at Yale�yale.edu.


<Your> Domain <Name Here>

Domain names are registered names that correspond to specific businesses, colleges, non-profit organizations, and other entities. They're registered with an organization by the name of InterNIC (a tidbit you can use in conversation to amaze the less Web savvy of your friends). They're usually pretty easy to guess.

The ibm.com is an easy one�who doesn't know IBM? The .com simply indicates that IBM is a for profit corporation. The .edu indicates an educational institution; .org is a non-profit association or business; .net is generally a network service provider such as earthlink.net; .gov (tough one, eh?) a government agency. Those are the most common types of domains.

My company, Research Triangle Institute, is more commonly referred to as RTI�thank goodness! I'd hate for my Web site to be www.researchtriangleinstitute.org! WWW.rti.org is a heck of a lot easier to type.

The domain name is the last two parts of a Web site address: ibm.com; rti.org; yale.edu. The third part of most Web sites' addresses�the www�is the designation for a specific machine on that company's network. Only the very last two parts are the actual domain name.


Okay, you go on searching for Graham. I'll continue my search for myself. I really need to get a handle on how many of me there are. If I locate enough Linda Brigmans, I'll never do housecleaning again! One of us is bound to be neat and she can do it!

I appear to be completely out of luck here. This is not good. I existed at Lycos. I seem to have disappeared here. Except for that phone listing I found earlier. That listing also listed my e-mail address but this one does not. Interesting.

If you still haven't found your friend, Four11 has a very nice service that they offer registered visitors. It's your call as to whether you want to use it, but it can be very helpful if you're looking for someone � or perhaps they're looking for you (some people may not find that latter option desirable and might just as soon stay lost).

Further Information