MakeUseOf: We’ve all heard of Wolfram Alpha, the website that makes your computer like the ones in Star Trek. Ask it any question involving numbers, from the comparative net worth of Apple and Microsoft to the digits of pi, and you’ll get an answer. These sorts of calculations are useful, the kinds of thing Kirk might ask his computer.
I, if given the chance, would ask Kirk’s computer really stupid/awesome things. Like whether I’m drunk, whether I’m fat or how common my name is compared to my friend’s. Luckily, Wolfram Alpha can answer stupid/awesome questions! Let’s take a look at some weird and wonderful uses for the Wolfram Alpha search engine.
Techland writes: Over at TIME.com, you'll find my new Technologizer column. It's about Bing, Blekko, and the whole idea of competing with Google--and in it, I mention how dangerous it is for a new company to set itself up as a Google rival, or to be perceived as a Google killer. I mention Cuil, the definitive failed Google killer. But there's another example that's worth remembering: Wolfram|Alpha.