Web Search--FirstGov
Source: Government Computer News "Is the FirstGov Playing Field Level?"
From the article, "The General Services Administration�s acceptance of the FirstGov search engine as a gift from philanthropist Eric Brewer �shelters all the information from current law.� Or so says David LeDuc, manager of public policy at the Software and Information Industry Association of Washington...The engine is performing more accurately today than a few months ago and it will continue to improve, said David Binetti, president of the FedSearch Foundation and creator of the search engine. The topics directory, however, still only goes two layers deep for most topics, LeDuc said. Binetti acknowledged that up to 15 percent of visitors don�t find what they�re looking for on the first try. But LeDuc said vendors that might supply more advanced search engines cannot provide adequate responses to GSA�s recent request for information about a new engine because they don�t have access to the back end�the search engine�s index and database." See Also: "Who�s Owner of FirstGov Database? Not Uncle Sam"
Web Search--AltaVista
Source: PC World Do You Use Any of AltaVista's Regional Search Tools? Be Careful!
From the article, Searching for a Web page that was created after mid-April this year? Better not try any of the 22 regional AltaVista search sites.No new Web pages have been added for months to the index behind the regional search sites, AltaVista confirmed on Tuesday. The local sites are supposed to generate search results relevant for Web users in a specific country. By default, all local sites search in the regional index...AltaVista says the index is outdated because the database that holds the regional URLs is being merged with the main international database...Ultimately the merger of the two indexes should result in a better search service, but the new Web index won't be ready for about another month..." Database refresh rates have been improving. Sadly, AV doesn't think it's important to let us know since they assume most webmasters know indexing takes time. Fine, but what about alerting the searcher, those people who depend on indexes to be fresh and current and don't understand refresh times? How about telling them to use another AV database that is being refreshed? From the article, "Most Web masters are aware that indexing pages takes time. Typically we update every six weeks. Now we've skipped a cycle because of the merge," says [Ian] Hegerty, [technical architect for AltaVista]. He offers no comment when it is pointed out that more than one cycle has been skipped, as it has been more than four months since new pages were added to the regional indexes." The Good News? Chris Sherman, editor of Search Day, has seen what AltaVista is developing for the future. He tells us, "I got a peek inside the kimono a few weeks ago when I visited their offices, and what I saw impressed me. They don't expect the new changes to be fully implemented for some time yet, but if they pull off what they're planning they're going to recapture some of their lost glory. That they haven't updated regional indexes recently isn't surprising -- they've endured major job cuts and have simply chosen to allocate resources toward the new functionality rather than worrying too much about maintaining the status quo. Net, I'm optimistic."
Web Search Industry
Source: News.Com/Gartner Group How Much Would You Pay to Perform an Internet Search?
I think many info professionals would be willing to pay for a robust, current, and sophisticated web search engine than is currently offered by many of the leading search companies. From the commentary, "Like so many things connected with the Internet, the availability of a variety of free search engines helps people forget the complexity, sophistication and cost of the technology that underlies them. It also encourages the average person to be somewhat fickle in using search engines. There's little brand loyalty here. If you hear about an engine that is faster and produces better results than the one you're now using, it costs you nothing to try it...Consequently, the search engine business has become something of a king-of-the-hill game with a succession of royalty. The question for search engine companies has become whether they can create a feasible business model before being knocked off the throne. AltaVista, for example, though it invested heavily in technology, did not succeed in transforming its technological leadership into general portal status."
Info Industry--Reed Elsevier R-E Gets Rid Of Who's Who (Marquis Publishing)
From the article, "Commonwealth Business Media, Inc. announced today that it has signed a definitive purchase agreement to buy from Reed Elsevier Inc. the Marquis Who's Who line of business as well as selected titles of the National Register Publishing brand including The Official Catholic Directory and The Official Museum Directory. The acquisition is expected to close in early October." See Also: R-E Purchases Classroom Connect
Full-Text Document Shelf (4 Items)
It's An All-Canada Day!!! Philanthropy--Canada
Volunteering--Canada
Source: Statistics Canada Caring Canadians, Involved Canadians: Highlights from the 2000 National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating Summary ||| Direct to Full-Text
87 pages .pdf
---- Banks--Canada--Fact Sheets
Source: Department of Finance Canada's Banks
Facts, charts, and lists.
---- Insurance--Canada--Fact Sheets
Source: Department of Finance Canada's Life and Health Insurers
--- Privacy--Canada
Firearms--Canada
Source: Privacy Commissioner of Canada Review of the Personal Information Handling Practices of the Canadian Firearms Program News Release ||| Direct to Full-Text
87 pages .pdf
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