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What are search engines? Tools used for locating web pages Automated software programs known as...
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Transcript of What are search engines? Tools used for locating web pages Automated software programs known as...
What are search engines?
Tools used for locating web pagesAutomated software programs known as
spiders or bots to survey the Web and build their databases.
SE databases are knows as the search engine index
The best urls are returned to you as hits.
What is a URL?
Uniform Resource Locator: a protocol for specifying addresses on the Internet
An address that identifies a particular file on the Internet
Usually consisting of the protocol, as http, followed by the domain name
What is a domain?
A group of computers and devices on a network that are administered under the same protocol.
Indicates the type of organization, geographical location, or both
Designated in the suffix as .com for commercial enterprises in the U.S.
Domains to Know . . ..com = a commercial business.edu = an educational institution.gov = a governmental institution.org = a non-profit organization.mil = a military site.net = a network site
What’s the URL? The Domain?
ftp://www. pcwebopedia.com
http://www.pcwebopedia.com
Why would you use a Search Engine?Finding information on the WebLooking for a JobResearching a topic for school or a projectLooking for Health or Diet InformationMaking a purchase—new car, home,
computer, book, cell phoneLocating an old Friend or an AddressPlanning a Vacation
How Large is a Search Engine?
Some have logged the words from over 1 billion documents (REMEMBER that there are billions of pages on the Web.)
What Search Engine is the Biggest?
Google with 3.3 billion pagesAlltheweb.com with 3.1 billion pages
Some ExamplesLycos – one of the original SesAlltheweb – largest index, fastest look-up
timeAltaVista – a favorite until Google came!Excite – concept-based SE
How do Search Engines Work?Rely on computer programs called spiders or
robots to crawl the WebA robot is a piece of software that
automatically follows hyperlinks from one document to the next around the Web.
Scans its database and returns a file with links to websites containing key words
Getting Ready to SearchIdentify the Main Concepts in your topic
Determine the following: Synonyms, Alternate Spellings, Variant Work Forms
Example: hard stone, hard test or cardiac for the word heart
Know how to use the various search tools availableSearch Engine – Alta VistaSubject Directory -- Yahoo
What’s the Difference between a SE and a Subject/Web Directory?Less than there used to be . . .
Today SEs have built large subject catalogues
Subject or Web directories organize the Web into topics and subtopics.Arts, Science, Health, Business, News,
Entertainment
Think of SEs as an index that enables you to seek specific words and phrases.
When to use what?For broad, general information go to a
subject or web directory.
For narrow, specific information use a Search Engine
Which would you use for this example?You'd like to create your own home page on
the Web, but you don't know how to write HTML, you've never created a graphic file, and you're not sure how you'd post a page on the Web even if you knew how to write one. In short, you need a lot of information on a rather broad topic--Web publishing.
Use a Subject or Web DirectoryTo find out about Web page publishing from
Yahoo, select the Computers and Internet Topic, under which you find a subtopic on the Wide World Web. Click on that and you find another list of subtopics, several of which are pertinent to your search: Web Page Authoring, CGI Scripting, Java, HTML, Page Design, Tutorials. Selecting any of these subtopics eventually takes you to Web pages that have been posted precisely for the purpose of giving you the information you need.
Use a Strategy when Searching
Without a clear strategy, using a search engine is like wandering aimlessly in the stacks in a library trying to find a particular book!
Techniques to Effectively Use Search EnginesIdentify Keywords
Definition: A Keyword is any word on a Web page
Breakdown the topic into key concepts; use quotation marks to group words togetherExample: to find information about what the
FCC has said about the wireless communications industry use— FCC “wireless communication”
Principles for a Smart Search1. Know where to look first2. Fine tune your keywords3. Query by example—use the help options
that the SE provides4. Anticipate the answer
Search Ratings by SpidapGoogle -- Biggest, Fastest, Most
ComprehensiveGoogle – Most Relevant ResultsAltavista – Best Advanced Search RefinementAsk Jeeves for Kids – Best Search Engine for
KidsGoogle – Best Directory
Remember . . .1. You are smarter than a computer.2. Use your intelligence.3. Search Engines are fast, but dumb!
Bibliography/SourcesUsing Search Engines by Deb Flanagan, 2004The Spider’s Apprentice by Spidap, 2007