Part 8: Types of Information

Search Engine- Gigablast

Gigablast is a search engine that uses 200 billion full pages and 100,000 servers. It supports the Boolean Operators AND, OR, and NOT. Gigablast also has an advanced search that allows for the exclusion of certain words, URLs, and phrases, but also the inclusion of those too. It allows for Site clustering. It does use stemming as the search i am using is "music AND autistic children positive results" and it brings up at the top of the page links to music therapy, and therapists. Gigablast uses spiders to comb the web for pages but also allows for the direct uploading of a site to their databases.

Metasearch tool- Dogpile

Dogpile is a metasearch tool that compiles all relevant searches to your search from many different search sites such as Google and Yahoo! and "dogpiles" them in a easy to access place. Dogplie has an advanced search bar also with some of the advanced search options that Gigablast offered. (exclusion of certain words, inclusion of specific phrases and words) Dogpile also stems as with the same search "music AND autistic children positive results" it brings up links to children's music searches. Dogpile has a list of past searches on the side of their page for easy access. Dogpile also has a list of the most popular searches on the front of their page.

Subject Directory- World Wide Web Virtual Library

The World Wide Web Virtual Library has quick links to specific areas of life such as Agriculture, Arts, International Affairs, and Law. when i type in my search "music AND autistic children positive results" it shows the number of searches for each part of the search rather the search as a whole. Its advanced features show that Boolean Operators are part of the Directory. It also allows for certain document types, word forms, and output formats. A search directory requires a very specific search on one topic and should be used only if a very advanced search is needed.