Web Search Engines

February 19, 1999

In an information rich environment like the Web, search tools can be instrumental in harnessing what you need. The proliferation of these sites has made it difficult to choose, but there is certainly a search engine out there for everyone. In fact, finding the search tool which matches your own thinking processes can be the key to having success. One site is not necessarily better than another, they're just different.

Of course there is the distinction of the index versus the directory. Whereas the index covers a larger volume of sites and brings back very literal hits whether they match your intention or not, the directory is a conceptual tool which returns listings from a smaller database that are closer to your intended search. To each his/her own!

This edition not only touts a number of search engines for your consideration, it also recommends sites which can assist you in choosing and using your search engine of choice. Look especially for those search instruments designed with educators in mind. Hey, it's a cyber-jungle out there.....somebody has to look out for us teachers!
 
ALTA VISTA - http://www.altavista.com/
Perhaps the premier index online; includes a language translator, photo finder, and a family filter to block out objectionable material, as well as one of the best advanced searches anywhere - and Alta Vista Discovery makes searching for information more coordinated than ever

ASK JEEVES - http://www.askjeeves.com/
All directories are conceptual, AJ handles semantics and syntax by accepting queries as complete questions taking conceptual searches to a whole new level; if you are more verbal than logical, AJ may be what you're looking for

BEAUCOUP - http://www.beaucoup.com/
Lists available search engines by categories - very helpful if you're looking for something new and different aside from the mainstream searches we are all accustomed to

BIGFOOT - http://www.bigfoot.com/
Searches for websites and Yellow Pages listings, but this site is most noted for its people searches - you have an email address, they can help you find them; check out their Neoplanet service as a way to integrate all your web needs into one location

BRITANNICA - http://www.ebig.com/
The editors of the renowned encyclopedia harness the riches of the Internet, categorize them for your use, rates and reviews them, and offer them through a searchable database here; can include Alta Vista searches

DEJA NEWS - http://www.dejanews.com/
The easiest way to get into newsgroups; look for messages in the traditional search query box or customize DN so that you can access favorite topics and groups instantly to keep up with postings on a regular basis - it can't get much easier than this

DOGPILE - http://www.dogpile.com/
The meta-search engine with the offbeat image, Dogpile takes your query and processes it through Yahoo!, Thunderstone, Lycos' A2Z, GoTo.com, Mining Co., Excite Guide, PlanetSearch, What U Seek, Magellan, Lycos, WebCrawler, InfoSeek, Excite and AltaVista all at once, adjusting to the peculiarities of each for you - you can also look for newsgroups, stock quotes, yellow pages, FTP sites, weather and maps

EUROSEEK - http://www.euroseek.net/page?ifl=uk
A search tool designed specifically for finding information and resources throughout Europe; this URL is the English link, but you can search in any major European language

EXCITE - http://www.excite.com/
A personalized directory engine that uses Intelligent Concept Extraction to increase conceptually appropriate hits for your searches; also offers news, chat, bulletin boards, domains and a variety of services from airline tickets to movies and  personals - the kind of site which tries to be a home base as much as a pit stop

EXPRESS - http://express.infoseek.com/
Infoseek's dazzling new search tool which is fabulous for finding graphics - download the free software and have its capabilities at your fingertips whenever you need it; easy to individualize to make it useful for your specific needs

FINDING DATA ON THE INTERNET - http://nilesonline.com/data/
Robert Niles' site offering ideas on how to successfully find what you're looking for on the largest single information source known to mankind - the Web

FINDING INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET - http://lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html
A tutorial from UC Berkeley which provides strategies and information to help you focus your searches on the WWW, in newsgroups and listservs

GOOGLE - http://google.com/
A new contender in the search engine sweepstakes claiming to use a sophisticated mathematical formula to help you find the highest quality, most accurate searches possible from "more than a billion hyperlinks"; also allows you to view cached versions of web pages so you're not out of luck if the actual site is down when you need it

HOTBOT - http://www.hotbot.com/
If this were a popularity contest, this index may well win hands down; Wired Digital offers a fast, efficient tool which is not as conceptually oriented as I would like, but is certainly exhaustive in bringing back every possible hit you could be looking for - definitely geared for a younger clientele, some of the nomenclature for their related services are bordering on being distasteful.....to each his own

INFOSEEK - http://infoseek.go.com/
One directory I seem to have particular success on; it may not be as big as some of its competitors in the volume of sites it covers, but it tends to connect me to resources i can truly make use of - if you've never tried it I would highly recommend it (click on tips to learn of all its features before you give it a whirl)

KIDS CLICK - http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/KidsClick!/
If you are comfortable with the thought of a librarian directing you towards the best resources (and who isn't?), this is a great site for locating kid's resources; this directory is built by librarians and narrows down the content to that which is truly kid-appropriate - created and maintained by the Ramapo Catskill Library System

LYCOS - http://www.lycos.com/
In a lot of ways Lycos is just as conceptually accurate as Infoseek, but it offers some intriguing free software such as Stock Alert and Planet Oasis, as well as a customized version of IE Explorer and other navigation tools; of course there's the all-too-familiar chat services, shopping links and other frills to lure you into making this your home page

MAMMA - http://www.mamma.com/
Access with an attitude - "the mother of all search engines"; aside from fluff like personals and horoscopes, Mamma can give you powerful search results without having to surf from engine to engine - especially interesting is "Mamma Remote", a small second window you can take with you as you surf around the web to search at any time, any place without having to return to the main Mamma page.....now that's helpful!

NETGUIDE - http://www.netguide.com/
Emphasizes its staying current with the ever changing Web landscape; editors of various categories serve as experts in their disciplines to help you find satisfaction in your Net pursuits

NORTHERN LIGHT - http://www.northernlight.com/
Web resources from over 120 million sites, plus articles and reviews from more than 5,400 periodicals dating back to 1995; while purchasing actual materials from special content areas is not free, it is nominal

ONE SEEK - http://www.oneseek.com/
A meta-search tool which specializes in not only web sites but web rings and a variety of specialized subjects; the frames get really annoying when you want to see the actual page, but you can get around that easy enough

OPEN DIRECTORY - http://dmoz.org/
Formerly "New Hoo", this 'self-regulating republic' asks netizens to volunteer as editors to recommend the corners of the Web they know best, making for a non-commercial, populist directory where democracy runs amuck! If you want to see the input of the common man rather than polished experts, this site will definitely give you a new perspective

PINAKES - http://www.hw.ac.uk/libWWW/irn/pinakes/pinakes.html
Named after the catalogue of the library in ancient Alexandria, Egypt, this site links major subjects to help make searching more productive and successful; the newsletter for educators may also be of interest for Higher Ed people

PLANET CLICK! - http://www.planetclick.com/Education/
Another attempt at populism, this directory offers sites based on the ratings of people who visit.....participatory democracy with a twist - the hits can be fresh and off the beaten path

PLANET K-12 - http://planetk-12.planetsearch.com/
A directory and Internet community for educators; unique in that you can search specifically in educational listings only to rule out extraneous material that usually clogs up your hit list - not as thorough as the bigger engines but its nice to have a place just for teachers

PROTEUS - http://www.thrall.org/proteus.html
Incredibly sophisticated site allowing you to make use of dozens of search engines and tailor them to an interface you are most comfortable with; it's a little overwhelming to see all the choices it offers you, but if you have the time and the patience the rewards are there

SEARCH ENGINE WATCH - http://searchenginewatch.com/
Search engine guides, status reports, facts, resources and a mailing list to keep you up to date on what's new, what works and why

SEARCH ENGINES AND SYNTAX EXAMPLES - http://www.findspot.com/
Tips on using the most popular indexes and directories so that you can have the most success with the time you put into it - great summaries

SEARCHING THE WEB - http://numa.niti.org/enc/
The Eisenhower National Clearinghouse's nicely organized tutorial on making the most of Web searches, from beginner to advanced

SPIDER'S APPRENTICE - http://www.monash.com/spidap.html
Helps make searching a more efficient, rewarding process, with up-to-date news on search engine improvements and a ticker to show you what are the most popular search queries at any given time

STUDENTS' GUIDE TO THE WWW - http://www.gis.net/~peacewp/
Made by William Peace from Cape Cod, select search engines by subject area to facilitate successful information gathering online

SURFIN' - http://members.aol.com/search/index.html
Reviews for search engines, meta searchers, people and business finders, usenet and other specialized types of searches

TKMs EDUCATION WEB SEARCH - http://www.tkm.mb.ca/education/
Out of Manitoba, TKMs search covers all levels of education and seeks sites of interest to educators exclusively; it's not as flashy as Planet K-12 but it does offer a unique service

WEBIVORE - http://207.121.190.134/
Touting itself as "a comprehensive research system", Webivore is designed by educators for educators with software for 5th grade through college - but hurry and check it out, it goes subscription based in March!

YAHOO - http://www.yahoo.com/
The original fun directory with enough common sense to keep it useful and enough extras to keep you checking back - I find myself coming here when I get frustrated with other searches.....it just makes sense to me

YAHOOLIGANS - http://www.yahooligans.com/
Of all the kid-centered search tools, this one consistently gives me offerings I can use, usually with a few surprises I wasn't aware of; I get tired of out of date links here, but the good outweighs the bad and I recommend it to you highly

ZAPME! - http://www.zapme.com/net/
A grade 6-12 directory bringing you some 10,000 educational sites on such areas as the classroom, library research , the teacher's toolbox, news and current events and the future for students - worth a look

Here are three more worthy considerations for search engines as a result of Friday's newsletter: Search Spaniel http://www.searchspaniel.com -

Margaret Stimson sent this referral Infind http://www.infind.com/ -

John Boudinot recommends this as his favorite GOTO http://goto.com - A quick and easy way to get search hits

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