A problem with use of search engines to find resources is the
limitations of indexing software, such as ranking and lack of support
for metadata. For example, ht://Dig is the most popular search engine
on UK University Web sites [1] but its support for metadata is poor
(e.g. it can't index Dublic Core metadata).
There are richer products around,m but they to to cost. For example
Inktomi (formerly Ultraseek) is used by about 12 institutions. I've
recently been approached by a salesman for ISYS:Web which he claims
provides Inktomi type functionality for less cost (see
http://www.isysuk.co.uk/products/spider.shtml)
Is there any interest in this type of software?
Brian
1 Survey Of UK HE Institutional Search Engines - June 2001
http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/surveys/uk-he-search-engines/survey-jun
2001.html
---------------------------------------
Brian Kelly
UK Web Focus
UKOLN
University of Bath
BATH
BA2 7AY
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/
Phone: 01225 323943
> -----Original Message-----
> From: List for the UK HE community to discuss all aspects of
> managing an institut [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Sarah Agarwal
> Sent: 21 September 2001 12:01
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: How do users find pages?
>
>
> While there are some sophisticated users out there who may
> input the URL, most users are likely to perform a search in a
> search engine or route through a directory. Users that are
> sophisticated enough to search using a URL will be
> sufficiently savvy to know that they shouldn't give up if
> they don't get the result they want that way, so will end up
> using a search engine / directory anyway.
>
> It's important that URLs are meaningful as far as possible,
> however metadata and indexing is much more key to helping
> users get to the parts of the site that you want them to reach.
>
> Sarah Agarwal
>
> Environment Agency
> 0117 915 6251
>
>
> >>> Jump Ruth <[log in to unmask]> 09/20/01 09:57am >>>
> I'm about to be drawn into a bicker with one of our academic
> departments on the subject of URLs and whether or not users
> can find them. I have technical and political reasons for
> not wanting to give him the URL he's asking for, but he's of
> the opinion that no-one will find his site, at it's current address.
>
> My gut feeling is that anyone looking for his pages,
> nowadays, without knowing where they are, would use a search
> engine, either our own, or an external one. In which case,
> the address of his pages doesn't matter very much. Does
> anyone have any evidence to support/discount my feeling on
> this? Or am I making assumptions based my own habits, which
> are not representative?
>
>
> Ruth
>
>
>
>
> Ruth A Jump
> CWIS Team
> Computing and Information Services
> Liverpool John Moores University
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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