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Using Search Toolson the Internet

They’re Not All The Same!

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3 Types

The 3 main types of search tools used to find information are:

Subject Directories Search Engines Multiple Search Engines

Search Engines

Multiple Search Engines

Subject Directories

The

Web

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Subject DirectoriesAre produced by humans who have reviewed a web site and allocated a subject to that particular web site.

The web site’s detail, including it’s address are then organized under these subjects categories.

Yahoo http://www.yahoo.com.au

Excite http://www.excite.com/SubjectMagellan http://www.mckinley.com

The Aussie Index

http://www.aussie.com.au

Examples:

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Yahoo Human selection – not all inclusive

Functions more as a directory

Sparse abstracts (descriptions of web sites)

Updating is slow

Boolean operators (AND, OR)

Yahooligans (for kids)

Web tutorials (self guided learning)

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Excite

Limited database

Intelligent searches i.e. related/synonymous terms: e.g. elderly people, senior citizens (Concept search)

Content type selection: current news, Excite Germany

Boolean operators: limited - AND, NOT, OR

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Magellan Human selection

Site easy to navigate

Abstracts are actually reviews of entire site

Aims to provide thought provoking, current, in depth information

Indicator if suitable for kids, (net nanny)

Greenlight sites: no content for mature audiences

Boolean operators: AND, OR, NOT, NEAR, WITH, ADJACENT

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Search Engines Are a little more complicated and are made up of

3 parts;

1. A computer program which visits a web site, reads the information and picks out key words

2. A very large list of subjects in alphabetical order, (index) which is created from the key words

3. The search part of the program which looks at your search term and and then checks your word with the list and reports back to you.

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Search Engines

Examples:

Alta Vista http://www.altavista.com

Google http://www.google.com

Hotbot http://www.hotbot.com

Infoseek http://www.infoseek.com

Nine MSN http://search.ninemsn.com.au/

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Alta Vista

Automatic indexing of every word on every page – high recall/ low relevance.

No selection criteria for sites

Abstract is first 25 words on the first page

Ask Alta Vista a question

Limited use of Boolean operators to refine search – use of +, -, *, AND, OR, NOT, NEAR

Basic, advanced searches, refine, FAQ’s

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Google

Is the BIGGEST search engine database in the world -http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Google.html (Updated 5 Sept, 2002)

AND is always the default between terms Limited Boolean search terms – OR Google lets you search full text of most PDF files

(Personal Document Files) on the web Lots of "stop words" which you have to precede with a +

to search or search in quotes. Offers Advanced Search Special features include, Google Image Search,

Google News, Google Special Searches, Google University Search

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NINEMSN SEARCH An Australian Search Engine

Results come from Looksmart Australia and Inktomi

Is linked to ninemsn, which is Australia's number-one website

Can download their free filter (net nanny)

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Multiple Search EnginesAre able to search using a keyword you type in, across a number of already existing search engines and subject directories, therefore a much wider search is carried out.

They only use the top 10-15 hits from each search engine. This means they aren’t as good for in-depth searches.

Examples:

Metacrawler http://www.metacrawler.com/index.html

Dogpile http://dogpile.com

Savvy Search http://www.savvysearch.com/

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Metacrawler

Can choose to search by “any’, “all” or “phrase”

Queries nine different engines.

Can limit by geographic region and type of site - (edu, gov, etc).

Has Basic and Advanced search options

Special search features include: Song and audio file, Images, Multimedia, Message Boards, News, Shopping, Search by Country

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Dogpile

Queries more than 20 databases.

Has Basic and Advanced search options

Special search features include: DirectorySong and audio file, Images, Multimedia, File Search, Message Boards.

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The Last Word

Choose the Search Tool that best

meets your information needs!

Power Point by Nicole Slinger