Single
Search Engines
Examples
AlltheWeb
http://www.alltheweb.com/
Alta Vista http://www.altavista.com
Backflip http://www.backflip.com
Excite http://www.excite.com
Google http://www.google.com
HotBot http://www.hotbot.com
Lycos http://www.lycos.com
MSN.com http://search.msn.com
Oingo.com http://www.oingo.com
Teoma.com http://teoma.com
Togglebot.com http://www.togglebot.com
Wisenut http://www.wisenut.com/
Background
In spite of claims of biggest, recent studies
Nature 1999 revealed that only about 15% - 30% of the 800 billion web sites are actually
retrieved. The web is developing at such a fast rate that the search engines are unable to
keep pace. For this reason alone, users are strongly encouraged to run a search in
at least two large engines and check the top results for "comprehensive"
results.
Trends
Faster, bigger, simpler, and more meaningful summarizes the direction of search
tools today. Today, Google recently (September 2001) claimed 1
billion pages, followed by
AllthWeb (539 million pages), MSN Search (480 million
pages), Alta Vista (423 million pages), and Northern Light
(368 million pages) Google takes the prize for biggest, but these results change
quite frequently. Search engines have evolved from the basic search results returned
in ranked order to offering users additional ways to enhance search results
and ask questions.
All search engines offer a
box to enter terms for a basic search. To achieve the most precise
results and glimpse any special services a search tool offers be sure
to check out the Advanced Search option. Most web searchers
never see the advanced search because when they type in terms they
always get something, but effective searchers ask -- is it the best
and most relevant information I could find and they use the advanced
search option.
Search
Us, Says Google. (interview with Sergey Brin & Larry Page) Technology
Review. Nov. 2000
.
How
a search engine works. Elizabeth Liddy. Searcher. May 2001 Proxy
required
Darwin
on the Web: Evolution of Search Tools
Dale Vidmar
Computers
in Libraries, May 1999 Proxy required
Future Revisited: What's
New with Web Search
http://www.onlineinc.com/onlinemag/OL2000/sherman5.html
Chris Sherman
Online May 20000
Web
Search Engines Evolve to Meet Challenges
Karen Diaz
Reference
& User Services Quarterly, Spring 1999 Proxy
required
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MetaSearch
Engines
Examples
Ask Jeeves http://www.aj.com
Beaucoup http://www.beaucoup.com/
Dog Pile http://www.dogpile.com
IxQuick http://www.ixquick.com/
Mamma http://www.mamma.com
Meta Crawler http://www.metacrawler.com
Search.com http://www.search.com/
Vivisimo http://vivisimo.com/
Background
Metasearch, megasearch, parallel or multiple search engines lay claim to providing the
searcher with the best results from simultaneous searching in several search engines. They
are made up of three parts: 1)dispatch mechanism which chooses the search engines in which
to search, 2) interface agent which translates the search terms for each search engine to
be searched, and 3) display mechanism which lists the results from the searches.
Search
considerations
Usually metasearch tools don't take advantage of a search engine's
advanced search features and retrieve only the top 10 - 25 sites from each search tool.
In addition, they are subject to time outs which also limits results. They are
used most effectively when search terms are unique and specific.
Vivisimo,
founded in June 2000, hopes to change some of our previous notions
about metasearch tools by emphasizing "the knowledge that human users hope to find rather than the mathematical elegance of the
algorithms". Vivisimo organizes results down the left side of the
screen similar to Northern Light's custom blue folders. Ixquick another
new entry into metasearching claims to be "the world's most powerful metasearch engine"
by being fast and smart, returning the most relevant results in a
comprehensive, clear, customizable manner. They offer 10
reasons why they are the best.
Searchers should consider the following in selecting a metasearch tool:
what search engines are included in the search; can you select or
deselect search engines?
how are search terms and syntax determined for each engine; is there a
default search or are terms translated appropriately?
evaluate how results are displayed; are the best results listed on
the first page or is scrolling required ?
Trends
Meta-Search Engines - U. California Berkeley
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/MetaSearch.html
Surviving
the Storm: Using Metasearch Engines Effectively
Judi Repman; Randal D. Carlson Computers in
Libraries, May 1999
Proxy required
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Subject Search Engines
Examples
Amazing Picture Machine
Deja.com
Find Law
SearchIQ
Trends
Specialized Search Engines:
Alternatives to the Big Guys
David King. Online, May 2000 Proxy required
Specialty
Search Engines http://searchenginewatch.com/facts/speciality.html
Search Engine Watch, Danny Sullivan
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