Information Literacy MODULE 8 Internet search
Internet search
In this module we will introduce the issue of Internet search tools. We will briefly present the
history of the Internet. We will explain what the WWW service is and present search services on
the Internet, above all search engines, subject catalogues and metasearch engines.
Module objective:
• to summarize the history of the Internet
• to outline the characteristics of the Internet
• to introduce the WWW service
• to touch upon search services (search engines, subject catalogues, metasearch engines)
Basic terms:
Internet - a worldwide computer network based on TCP/IP protocols, which enable
communication between public and private networks, on various types of communication media
and various technical platforms.
Search engine - one of the basic types of Internet search tools; it is a system which, based on a
keyword formulated by the user, searches in a database or an index, and communicates the
search results to the user.
Subject catalogues - they enable access to a large amount of information sources arranged
according to topics, based on a certain hierarchic pattern.
Metasearch engine - a kind of Internet search service which enables the user to conduct a
parallel search through the databases of several search services based on one search query.
Hypertext - a text containing links to other documents which may be shown by means of
selecting a given link.
Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
2 WORLD WIDE WEB
2.1 WWW BUILDING BLOCKS
2.2 WEB 1.0, 2.0
3 INFORMATION SEARCH ON THE INTERNET
3.1 SEARCH SERVICES ON THE INTERNET
3.2 SEARCH ENGINES
3.3 SUBJECT CATALOGUES
3.4 METASEARCH ENGINES
3.5 PORTALS
4 RESULTS RELEVANCE
5 HOW TO SEARCH ON THE INTERNET
6 INVISIBLE WEB
7 TRENDS
7.1 EXPERIMENTAL SEARCH ENGINES
7.2 KNOWLEDGE SHARING
8 MODULE SUMMARY
Information Literacy MODULE 8 Internet search
1 INTRODUCTION
Each of you certainly uses the Internet. You can use it for your work, studies or entertainment. The
Internet has become an inherent part of our lives. Whether you want to work with the Internet or
you have to, it is necessary for you to be well acquainted with all the information it offers. And the
amount of this information is great. To be able to effectively search for such information so that it is
relevant requires an advanced knowledge of the Internet.
2 WORLD WIDE WEB
At the beginning we must remind you that WWW is not a synonym of the Internet itself.
However, due to WWW the Internet has been popularized and opened to all kinds of users.
WWW is a service which originated as a means of sharing textual information based on the
hypertext principle. It thus enables access to hypertext documents in the Internet environment,
and is based on the client/server architecture.
The client/server model is a certain form of distributed processing when one program (client)
communicates with another program (server) with the purpose of exchanging information.
This communication usually takes place in the following steps:
• The user launches the client in order to create a request.
• The client contacts the server.
• The client sends the request to the server.
• The server analyses the request.
• The server processes the request.
• The server sends the results to the client.
• The client presents the results to the user.
• The cycle is repeated as long as it is needed.
• The connection is closed.
2.1 WWW BUILDING BLOCKS
Let us now have a look at the building blocks of the World Wide Web. They are, above all,
hypertext and HTML language.
Hypertext - it is an implementation of a hypertext access to information. Originally linearly
written texts are divided into smaller units called nodes (e.g. documents, websites), and these
nodes are then interconnected via ties (links).
HTML language (Hypertext Markup Language) - it is intended for the creation of documents
which are to be presented on the Internet. This language offers the means of describing the
document content. It is a formatting language.
2.2 WEB 1.0, 2.0, 3.0
Since 2004 there has been a new Internet phenomenon, Web 2.0. The main change lies in the
creation and sharing of content. Have a look at the basic differences between Web 1.0 and Web
2.0 yourselves:
Information Literacy MODULE 8 Internet search
Area Web 1.0 Web 2.0
Functionality Information is organized in
hypertext websites. Control
via links causes fragmentation
of the information displayed
and a lower degree of
transparency.
In addition to information, application
functionality is provided. For example:
webmail, discussion, blog, notice board,
photo gallery, video shots. Control enables
displaying information at one place
without fragmentation.
Web content Web content is created by the
owner.
Visitors take part in the content creation.
The owner, in addition to creating the
content, plays the role of a moderator.
Decentralization of authorities takes place.
Interaction The owner has to interact;
therefore, interaction is
limited.
Interaction is welcome and usually has the
form of assessment, discussion, chat or
social network.
Content update The content is updated and
created by the owner.
There may be a great number of content
creators. The content is created by the
visitors, as well as by the owner.
Social ranking
of the visitor
The visitor is a passive reader
of information.
The visitors form a large community.
Visitors with similar interests meet at one
place and can actively communicate.
The table source: http://www.indextrade.cz/clanky/web-20-jako-dulezity-milnik-v-evoluci-webu
Even though there is no such thing as Web 2.0 according to many experts, Jeffrey Zeldman used
the term Web 3.0 in 2006. In his concept Web 3.0 is a combination of Web 2.0 and semantic web.1
Among the technologies the use of which is considered within Web 3.0 are:
• artificial intelligence,
• automatic derivation,
• cognitive architecture,
• knowledge representation,
• ontology in terms of computer sciences,
• semantic web,
• semantic wiki,
• software agents.
3 INFORMATION SEARCH ON THE INTERNET
The Internet is a vast information space in which there are new online information sources
available every day. The half-life of a website is around two years.
In order not to get lost in such a large amount of information and to make our way to it, we must
be able to search for it.
1 semantics = the study of word meaning
Information Literacy MODULE 8 Internet search
With regard to the availability of information sources, we have to distinguish between:
• Information sources available directly (they are usually public and free of charge).
• Information sources available indirectly (e.g. professional and commercial database
centres, while the Internet is only a method of access in such a case).
3.1 SEARCH SERVICES ON THE INTERNET
In functional terms, search services are composed of two main types:
• Search engines - they index words or terms found on WWW pages or in electronic
documents available online.
• Subject catalogues - they classify documents or entire WWW pages according to a given
subject classification or taxonomy.
3.2 SEARCH ENGINES
We may define a search engine as a system which, based on a keyword formulated by the user,
searches in a database or an index, and communicates the search results to the user.
An important role while searching is played by the keyword with which the user tries to express
their information need. In the field of search engines, the keyword is used in terms of a search
term or search expression.
A query is then composed of one or more keywords/search expressions; this query represents a
complete search request. Operators are often applied in queries; you became acquainted with
them in the module How to search for information. A document corresponding with the query is
called a hit. A successful query leads to one or more hits.
3.2.1 USE OF SEARCH ENGINES
We may use search engine services if:
• the subject of our interest is too narrow or contains unusual terms,
• we search for a special domain (website),
• we want to search through millions of websites,
• we want to find a great number of websites for specific research purposes,
• we want to find certain types of documents, files, languages etc.,
• we want to set the filter to the date of modification,
• we want to use benefits such as term clustering, ranking documents according to
popularity etc.
3.2.2 EXAMPLES OF SEARCH ENGINES
Have a look at foreign search engines.
http://www.google.com,
http://www.av.com/,
http://www.bing.com.
Among Czech search engines are for example:
http://www.jyxo.cz,
http://www.google.cz,
http://www.morfeo.cz.
Information Literacy MODULE 8 Internet search
3.2.3 DISADVANTAGES OF SEARCH ENGINES
One of the main disadvantages is the fact that while using more search engines we might come
across the issue of different syntax of commands, which is the result of development and a lack
of search engine standardization. Metasearch engines eliminate the disadvantage of using
different commands.
Search engine databases are created automatically by means of robots, as a result of which there
are many websites of dubious quality.
3.3 SUBJECT CATALOGUES
Subject catalogues or directories present a second search option.
This search service covers a smaller part of the web space than search engines. Their advantage
is a strict hierarchic classification and division into categories and subcategories. Subject search
is used if we know the subject of our interest and want to find more sources concerned with this
subject.
The user using a subject directory therefore knows what they are searching for and also knows
to what subject category the given information belongs.
A subject directory may be characterized as a service which offers a connection to the Internet
sources provided either by website creators or information workers. A subject directory is
organized into subject categories, subcategories etc. based on its type and size.
3.3.1 USE OF SUBJECT CATALOGUES
We may use a subject catalogue
• if our topic is very broad,
• if we want to get a list of web domains,
• if we search for information on a web domain,
• if we search for products or news,
• if we search according to a web domain title,
• if we want to avoid documents with a low degree of content frequently returned by
search engines etc.
3.3.2 EXAMPLES OF SUBJECT CATALOGUES
Among worldwide subject catalogues is:
http://www.yahoo.com (Yet Another Hierarchical
Officious Oracle),
http://www.nbci.com,
̵http://www.dmoz.org (Open Directory Project).
From Czech catalogues we may mention for
example:
http://www.seznam.cz,
http:/www.centrum.cz,
http://www.atlas.cz
http://www.zlatestranky.cz.
3.3.3 ADVANTAGES OF SUBJECT CATALOGUES
One of the main advantages of subject catalogues is the quality guarantee which is in fact given
by the way catalogues are managed (they are edited only manually). Most directories
furthermore assess and annotate information sources.
Information Literacy MODULE 8 Internet search
3.3.4 DISADVANTAGES OF SUBJECT CATALOGUES
Among the disadvantages of subject catalogues are above all: a limited scope, given by the way
the catalogues are managed, category structure, since in every subject catalogue different
classification patterns are used, therefore the orientation is more difficult, time expenditure, if
the users do not perceive the arrangement as natural, they might spend a long time browsing
through the catalogue before they find a relevant subcategory, link validity, many documents
are in time moved or even deleted, the issue of less frequent updates, subjectivity while
assessing and classifying information sources due to the human factor, general descriptions,
descriptions are created based on a mere general examination of the information sources, they
do not necessarily depict the exact contents of the sources.
While categorizing search services, we mentioned that current search services cannot be strictly
divided into “search engines” and “subject catalogues”. Now we are returning to the problem.
Nowadays we may speak of hybrid engines which are based on the fact that their directories
have search functions, and search engines also contain directories. The difference lies in what
was the primary function of the given search service, whether a directory or a search engine.
Points to think about!
Do you use subject catalogues? What do you search in them most often?
3.4 METASEARCH ENGINES
Metasearch engines enable us to search in various search engines or directories at the same
time. While searching, search results are combined and duplicate entries are removed. They may
also have the form of a list of search engines which may be entered from one domain (all-in-one).
3.4.1 EXAMPLES OF METASEARCH ENGINES
http://www.ask.com,
http://www.dogpile.com,
http://www.metacrawler.com,
http://www.profusion.com,
http://www.search.com,
http://www.kartoo.com .
3.4.1 ADVANTAGES OF METASEARCH ENGINES
Among the highlights of metasearch engines are:
• While searching, the user enters only one website.
• For an access to more search systems the user needs to learn to work with only one
interface (which saves a lot of time, otherwise the user would have to get acquainted
with all systems separately, since each of them has its own way of query entering, i.e. its
own syntactic rules for the query formulation and its own form arrangement, they also
have different output formats and structures of presented data on found documents).
Information Literacy MODULE 8 Internet search
• It is more effective and convenient to enter only one query rather than send queries to
each search system separately; this saves time which would otherwise be lost e.g. while
waiting due to a search engine overload.
3.4.2 DISADVANTAGES OF METASEARCH ENGINES
One of the disadvantages of this type of websites is that we do not come to know all the options
the individual systems use, especially while using an extended search. The search request is then
usually formulated by means of keywords, which is insufficient with an enormous number of
websites.
3.5 PORTALS
Many search engines have lately been transformed into web portals. The purpose of portals is
above all to integrate services in only one user interface. A portal may be described as a
frequently visited server which offers complex services to its users.
Portals offer the following services:
• search for catalogue information,
• search for full-text information,
• news service,
• a possibility of personalizing the page,
• online entertainment,
• discussion forums,
• online sale (e-shops),
• free electronic mailbox,
• free web space,
• planning calendar etc.
Seznam.cz is such a portal providing most of the above-mentioned services.
4 RESULTS RELEVANCE
While searching for information, relevance means the significance or adequacy of found
(selected) documents with regard to the entered query or search request. It may be measured as
follows: the individual found documents are assigned a partial relevance which may be
statistically evaluated, compared etc. Computer search systems often measure relevance as the
rate of agreement between the entered key and the reference found.
The highest degree of relevance is usually found with documents containing the highest number
of DIFFERENT keywords forming a query, and further documents in which such words occur with
the highest density.
There are 3 types of relevance:
a) formal,
b) material,
c) pertinence.
Information Literacy MODULE 8 Internet search
Example Imagine you want to go swimming to Kraví hora, only you do not know what the
opening hours and prices are. Try to enter “kraví hora swimming pool” in a search engine
(without inverted commas, without Boolean operators). Google will provide you with a correct
answer on the first position, Seznam will only give you the answer on the second page of
results. In this simple example you can see how important relevance is and how it differs with
each search engine. Therefore, if you are unable to find information immediately, try another
search engine or reformulate your query. Most search engines contain their own search
manuals. In these manuals you can often find interesting search tips.
5 HOW TO SEARCH ON THE INTERNET
Google has become a search engine which is used by more than a third of Czech users (it is 75% in
Slovakia and more than 90% in Poland). That is why we will mention the possibilities of an
advanced search (not only) in Google, which may really facilitate our search.
Boolean operator AND
If you enter several words in Google, Google automatically inserts the operator AND between
these words, therefore it searches for all the words. You may use this operator and other
operators in various search engines. Remember the module How to search for information.
Stop words
Google omits the so-called stop words. They are often function words (prepositions,
conjunctions...) or words which do not affect the search (then, how, where). Google ignores
such words while searching; otherwise there would be too many resulting entries of little
relevance.
Hint! If we want Google to include these words in the query, we insert plus + in front of such a
word. Do not use a space between plus and the word.
Another option is to search for exact phrases. We always insert the phrase in inverted commas,
e.g. “word combination”. Google then searches only for the exact phrase.
The following table contains a few other operators.
Operator Function
Link: expression This will show links which lead to a given web address, e.g.
link:muni.cz.
Intitle: expression It finds a given expression in the webpage title. E.g.
intitle:bioinformatika.
Llintitle: expression A similar principle to intitle. It is possible to use more words in this
case. E.g. allintitle:bioinformatika muni.
Information Literacy MODULE 8 Internet search
Inurl: expression It finds an expression in the web address. E.g. Inurl:bioniformatika.
Allinanchor: expression It finds websites which contain the given word in their links. E.g.
allinanchor:Masaryk.
Site: address expression The command finds the expression in a given domain or network.
E.g. site:www.idnes.cz univerzita. Another option is to limit the
search to a certain domain, e.g. de, at, co.uk. The expression is then
e.g. as follows: site:de praha.
Filetype: It only searches through document types selected in advance (pdf,
xls, doc, txt, sof, ps, ppt, rtf, wks, wps, wbd, wri, mw, lwp, wk1, wk2,
wk3, wk4, wk5, wki, wku). E.g. filetype:pdf bionformatika.
Info: address It writes out information on a given address. E.g. info:muni.cz.
Define: expression It writes out a term definition. E.g. define:bioinformatika.
„* expression“ The asterisk replaces any word.
~expression It searches for the given term including synonyms. E.g. ~copyright
also finds intellectual property.
expression
AND expression
It finds websites containing both expressions.
expression1 –expression2 It finds websites containing only expression 1. Expression 2 must not
be included; e.g. Škoda -car finds websites containing only the word
Škoda, not the word car.
You may enter these operators directly in the search field. You may, however, use an advanced
search offered by Google, and thus facilitate your work.
6 INVISIBLE WEB
All of the above-mentioned search services index the web space based on statistic websites
which are interconnected via other websites; this is the so-called Surface Web, which, however,
does not comprise the whole of the Internet. In addition to it, there is Invisible Web or Deep
Web. This comprises documents which are very to find using common search engines (i.e. these
documents are invisible to them).
These are above all:
• information stored in databases,
• directories,
• specialized search engines,
• the so-called solitary websites which do
not refer to other websites and there are
no links to them anywhere,
• dynamically generated websites (after a
basic interaction with the user) - e.g.
library catalogues, calculators,
• websites protected by passwords.
Information Literacy MODULE 8 Internet search
Specialized search services enable you to find Invisible Web:
http://aip.completeplanet.com,
http://www.turbo10.com,
http://www.scirus.com,
www.findarticles.com,
http://www.infoplease.com,
http://www.informine.ucr.edu,
http://www.scholar.google.com.
Example
Try to find as much information as possible about yourself.
Solution: The fastest way is to visit a web www.pipl.com which specializes in people search.
Enter your name there and you will get a list of documents related to it. You can limit your
search to a country or a city.
7 TRENDS
7.1 EXPERIMENTAL SEARCH ENGINES
WolframAlpha is a new and, according to some experts, revolutionary search engine. It is neither
a full-text search engine, catalogue search engine nor metasearch engine. The system is based
on a comprehensive database where WolframAlpha tries to find you an answer (for example, if
you enter Emil Zátopek, you will learn what medals he got and what times he reached).
WolframAlpha contains information from the field of economics, culture, astronomy, weather,
mathematics and many other.
Example
Try to find information about 1st January 1993
Solution: enter 1st January 1993 in the search field. WolframAlpha then gives you all the
information contained in its database. 1st January 1993 was a Friday, the sunrise was at 7:49
a.m. CET and the sunset at 4:06 p.m. CET etc. If we were interested in weather on that day, it
would be enough to add the keyword weather and a concrete spot.
Hakia is a semantic search engine. It still works only in the beta version, though. The whole
system of result displaying is based on the current use of the following criteria at the same time:
plausible websites recommended by librarians, websites presenting the newest information
available, websites exactly corresponding to the query.
Google Squared was launched as an experiment in 2009. It does not display results in the form of
links but in the form of a table of relations. Google Squared is still being developed.
Information Literacy MODULE 8 Internet search
Try to enter the question “Who was Václav Havel” in each of the search engines. Compare the
results.
WolframAlpha will tell us that Václav Havel was a former Czechoslovak President from the
Czech Republic. Hakia will offer many relevant links, concerned not only with his presidential
term but also with his writing career. Google Squared will offer no relevant answer.
7.2 KNOWLEDGE SHARING
Knowledge sharing among users is a current Internet trend. Today users are no longer mere
passive receivers of information; they actively participate in knowledge creation. A very good
example of creating and sharing knowledge is the Internet encyclopaedia Wikipedia. You will
learn more about these services in the next module called Effective Internet services.
8 MODULE SUMMARY
In this module you became briefly acquainted with the Internet history and the differences
between Web 1.0 and 2.0. The greatest part was devoted to the Internet search services: subject,
full-text and metasearch engines. You also became acquainted with search possibilities. We had a
look at the issue of Invisible Web and semantic web. We briefly mentioned the trend of
knowledge sharing.
Points to remember:
• There are other search engines than Google.com.
• There are special search engines for the Invisible Web.
• Most search engines have integrated manuals which will help you with your search.
• You can search for other document types on the Internet than just texts.
• Today we no longer speak strictly of either search engines or subject catalogues.