Doing "Research" has radically changed in the modern world..

[JayhawkSD]

5. Definition of "expert"

Not someone who knows everything; someone who knows where to find out.

That being said, today's quick search for information all too often turns up misinformation. There is danger in that.

Also there is value in learning by doing searches the old fashioned way. For one thing you discover things you weren't looking for and expand your knowledge. But even more so, you develop the ability of your mind by developing mental disciplines and abilities as you do the search.

I once had an engineer working for me who kept looking at the slide rule which I kept on my desk and occasionally used. He not only did not know how to use it, he was not real sure what it was. When he finally asked I showed him how I used it and he was totally mystified. Turned out he knew what a logarithm is but had never understood them or how they worked. I could kind of sympathize, because it was through manipulating and using a slide rule that logarithms came to life for me.

How does a mechanical engineer function without an understanding of something as basic? Well, he can get by using today's calculator, but...