| Computers have become a way of life for people | | | | a team of experts with fascination for keeping track |
| around the world. They are used to research term | | | | of information (28). During the spring of 1995, scientists |
| papers, check weather forecasts, track military | | | | at Digital Equipment Corporation's Research lab in Palo |
| progress, exchange ideas (blogs and chat) and to find | | | | Alto, CA, devised a way to store every word of |
| the cheapest price on items etc. It is no surprise that | | | | every HTML page on the internet in a fast searchable |
| as the computer age takes hold computer usage has | | | | index (28). This led to AltaVista's development of the |
| increased. The number of websites that are being | | | | first searchable, full text database on the World Wide |
| developed on the World Wide Web is growing at an | | | | Web (28). Compaq became the owner of AltaVista |
| ever increasing exponential amount. And because we | | | | after it purchased Digital in 1998. AltaVista was later |
| live in a quick-fix society, with limited time on our hands, | | | | spun off into a private company, controlled by CMGI. |
| we need something to make surfing the web a lot | | | | Overture, purchased the AltaVista in April 2003, |
| easier, something that will sort out all this influx of | | | | eventually Overture became part of Yahoo which led |
| information into a logical order.Hence the wonder of | | | | to the ownership transfer of AltaVista to Yahoo (29). |
| search engines, which have transformed the meaning | | | | AltaVista Canada was launched in January of 1998. |
| of search and has made our jobs easier. This paper | | | | Over 1,500,000 unique users visited the site and traffic |
| focuses on search engine case studies around the | | | | to the site grew by over 300% within the first year of |
| world. Different search engine regions selected for | | | | its launch. AltaVista Canada was a result of an |
| research in this paper were: American, European, | | | | agreement between TELUS advertising Services and |
| Canadian, Australian and the UK.American Search | | | | Compaq Computer Corp.'s AltaVista Search Service |
| EnginesIntroductionAs of January 1, 2004 the | | | | (30).General InformationAltaVista was the first to |
| estimated human population of the United States of | | | | deliver internet's first Web Index in 1995. It was also the |
| America was 292,287,428 and there were 164,100,000 | | | | first in offering multilingual search capabilities on the |
| computers (1). An estimated 90,000,000 households | | | | internet and to launch image, audio and video search |
| have access to internet (2). With this many people | | | | capabilities. It has been awarded 61 search-related |
| surfing the web, curiosity might cause one to wonder | | | | patents, more than any other internet search company |
| about the search engines being used in America. Two | | | | (28). AltaVista is great for international sites. It will find |
| of the most popular and well known search engines in | | | | sites not only in English on a topic, but in just about |
| America are Google and Yahoo. Although most | | | | every language imaginable. In case the user isn't |
| people have a preference to one or the other search | | | | bilingual, Alta Vista also includes a very handy |
| engine it is difficult to say one is truly better than the | | | | translation tool (31).AltaVista Canada HomepageThe |
| other as the quality of search is similar. According to | | | | homepage of AltaVista offers users various |
| some users, Google is the most powerful search | | | | convenient and easy to use features. The homepage |
| engine in the world (3). However, others users argue | | | | houses Canadian web index of more than 14,000,000 |
| that between the two search engines, "There is an | | | | pages. It allows you to search worldwide or within |
| imperceptible difference in the quality and relevancy of | | | | Canada. For the convenience of its users, AltaVista |
| results." (3).History of GoogleGoogle, was created by | | | | Canada provides a feature to select a language in |
| two Stanford University students. The original name | | | | which to present the results of its search. AltaVista |
| was BackRub but by 1998 the name had been | | | | provides a toolbar which is free, customizable and |
| changed to Google and it became a private company | | | | gives the user the research tools to perform searches |
| (4). A Googol is (10100), the word Google was created | | | | and translations from their own browser anywhere on |
| as a variation (5). Some argue that Google is the top | | | | the web. Popup blocker feature on the toolbar gets rid |
| search engine in the world and indeed it has become | | | | of annoying pop-ups. The "Web search" searches |
| so popular that it is now known as a verb (5).General | | | | within all AltaVista indexes, including the best image |
| InformationGoogle has grown from indexing 25,000,000 | | | | search on the web. The homepage also provides |
| pages in November of 1998 to 4,285,199,774 pages in | | | | specific features that help you narrow your search for |
| of June 2004 (6). Google is a crawler based search | | | | only images, music files, videos, news and directory |
| engine, meaning that the search engine sends out | | | | based on specific topic. "Advanced search" option |
| crawlers which automatically visit sites, follow links and | | | | provides different features for search options e.g., |
| create indexes which are then searchable (7). Google | | | | phrase, keywords, date, file type, location and sites per |
| is currently in a legal battle with the court systems to | | | | page option.History of AOL CanadaAOL Canada Inc. |
| keep its name out of the dictionary (5). Google was | | | | is a leading interactive service company focused on |
| the first major search engine to index non-HTML web | | | | enhancing Canadians online user experience. The |
| content allowing PDF files to be accessed (8). Google | | | | company is a strategic alliance between American |
| also offers services such as "cached" links that allows | | | | Online, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner |
| a user to view older versions of pages. Other features | | | | and RBC Royal Bank, the personal and commercial |
| include spell check, dictionary definitions, integration of | | | | banking division of RBC Financial, one of North |
| stock quotes, street maps, and telephone numbers | | | | America's leading diversified financial services |
| (4).Google HomepageThe home page offers a user | | | | companies. This alliance took place on July, 1999. The |
| many convenient features. Google has an easy to use | | | | company operates three interactive online services |
| tool bar that users can download onto their personal | | | | tailored to the Canadian marketplace, AOL English and |
| computers (3). If a user wants to search specifically | | | | French services, CompuServe and Netscape Online |
| for pictures the "Images" button will give them access | | | | as well as several leading Internet brands including |
| to the entire web but only those results containing | | | | AOL.CA, AOL Canada Search, AOL Instant |
| images will show up. The "Groups" button allows users | | | | Messenger (AIM), Netscape.ca and MapQuest |
| to participate in discussions that are taking place on | | | | (32).General InformationMembers of AOL Canada Inc. |
| Usenet newsgroups. The "News" button will provide | | | | have an added advantage. In addition to regular Web |
| headline news stories and you can have news alerts | | | | access, clients may choose to surf inside of the AOL |
| on specific subjects sent directly to your | | | | environment, which is only available to AOL Canada |
| email."Froogle" is a simple, easy way for a user to | | | | Inc. members. Inside the AOL environment, members |
| search for a bargain or even a specific item online. | | | | receive a great deal of Canadian content that has |
| The "more" link provides access to human-compiled | | | | been streamlined to meet their needs. Surfing on the |
| information from the "Directory", allows a user to get | | | | World Wide Web can sometimes be overwhelming |
| travel information or even simply use a calculator. The | | | | and frustrating due to the excessive amount of |
| "Advanced Search" will allow a user to limit a search | | | | information available. AOL Canada Inc. has chosen the |
| to PDFs or .edu search results. "Preferences" allows | | | | most popular channels and listed them on the Channel |
| customization of Google services. "Language Tools" | | | | Menu, each channel offering an abundant amount of |
| will translate any website or article into an | | | | information provided by AOL Canada Inc. and their |
| understandable language. If you're curious about | | | | partners on that particular topic (33).Homepage of |
| Advertising, Business Solutions or about Google, click | | | | AOL CanadaAOL Canada's homepage presents a |
| below the search box on one of the links. The "I'm | | | | variety of features to make search and web surfing |
| Feeling Lucky" button will take a user directly to the | | | | easier for its users. Some features presented on its |
| first page result of their search and not show any | | | | main page are: a sign in for AOL instant messenger, |
| other pages. Google lists its sponsored links separately | | | | mail, parental control, reminders and calendar etc. It has |
| from its general search results.History of YahooYahoo, | | | | a section for "Shopping online" which gives its users an |
| was created in 1994 (4). Most people are familiar with | | | | option to choose the specific item they are shopping |
| the phrase, "Do You Yahoo?" created as a Yahoo | | | | for. "Web channels" feature gives users a chance to |
| advertising slogan.General InformationIn 2004 Yahoo is | | | | search the web for careers, auto, entertainment, health |
| believed to be indexing about 3 billion pages (9). Yahoo | | | | news, sports etc. It also contains a section for yellow |
| is the oldest directory, "relying on human editors to | | | | and white pages search. Users can search for people |
| organize web sites into categories" however, Yahoo | | | | or places in this section. AOL Canada search, which is |
| decided to make a giant shift towards crawler based | | | | powered by Google, gives users a chance to search |
| listings in October of 2002 (4). Yahoo previously relied | | | | by topic or key words. The "Advanced search" |
| on Google for search results but in February of 2004 | | | | feature only has options for words and phrases rather |
| Yahoo created its own search technology (4). "It is | | | | than file type or specific sites e.g. .edu or .org. Search |
| important to note the new search engine is for web | | | | results include "Sponsored links" and matching sites. It |
| results only. Image search is still powered by Google, | | | | also has a "devices" tab where AOL offers Palm |
| and News search is a combination of Yahoo's own | | | | Organizers. Other information included on the |
| editorial and technological resources." (10). Yahoo has | | | | homepage is company information, news, pricing plans, |
| many of the same features Google provides such as | | | | employment and contact information.Australian Search |
| "cashed" links, spell check, dictionary, yellow pages, and | | | | EngineIntroductionAlthough the internet is globally |
| mapping programs. Yahoo also provides email | | | | accessible, the majority of its users reside in the more |
| services for free as long as the user doesn't mind | | | | developed nations where computer usage is most |
| sharing the page with advertisements. In fact, Yahoo's | | | | common. Australia has a high percentage of computer |
| knowledge and experience from the email services | | | | usage which resulted in increased usage of the |
| are believed to be helpful in providing Yahoo with a | | | | internet and development of search engines. The |
| deeper understanding of spam and an ability to keep it | | | | Australian population is currently 20,141,793 (34) with |
| out of their web page index (10).Yahoo | | | | 10,600,000 (35) computer users. Of which 9,240,000 |
| HomepageYahoo's home page is cluttered compared | | | | (24) have internet access.History of Web WombatAs |
| to the simple format of Google. Yahoo has the typical | | | | computers were being integrated into Australian |
| advanced search options and preferences allowing for | | | | businesses and homes, companies, such as Web |
| customization of features. To the right of the search | | | | Wombat, began to develop search engines to make |
| box is a pull tab that allows a user to limit their search | | | | information more accessible to Australians and the |
| to the web, images, yellow pages, news, or product | | | | world. As the internet grew and more pages began to |
| information. A user can look up movie times, send | | | | be indexed, Web Wombat turned its focus inward on |
| yahoo greetings, search for a house, or find travel | | | | Australia (36). This strategy proved to be very |
| information, just to name a few things. Yahoo's | | | | successful as evident by the fact that today Web |
| website directory has sites organized by subjects | | | | Wombat's spiders crawl the web for new sites to add |
| such as, education, science, health, and government. | | | | to its already vast cache of 100,000,000 web sites, |
| Towards the bottom of the page is a list of local | | | | making it Australia's leading search engine |
| Yahoo's. Who knew that there was a Yahoo | | | | (37).Homepage of Web WombatWeb Wombat |
| Singapore let alone a Yahoo Catalan. Like Google, | | | | indexes and stores a tremendous amount of |
| Yahoo lists its sponsored links separately from its | | | | information and the way in which they chose to |
| general search results.European Search | | | | present it is slightly different than other search engines. |
| EnginesIntroductionThere are 44 nations in the | | | | The lay out of Web Wombat's home page is initially |
| European region. These countries are home to | | | | dominated by advertisements. To the left of the home |
| 567,095,995 people, 9.33% of the world's population (11). | | | | page there is a box titled "Premium links" which are not |
| Each of these countries has at least one regional | | | | organized in any specific order. An example of this is |
| public search engine. Some of them have several (12). | | | | the fact that, of the twenty one listings within the box, |
| Booz-Allen & Hamilton, one of the United States' older | | | | there are three separate links to car rental sites, two |
| and more respected consulting firms conducted a | | | | to hotels, and miscellaneous links to things such as |
| study which pointed out that "...22% of European | | | | online dating. This information would be more useful to |
| households have access to the Internet" and in 2004 it | | | | consumers if it were categorized in some fashion |
| is expected that, "Western Europe should have more | | | | within a directory or if it were displayed to the side of |
| than 215,000,000 users on the Internet on at least a | | | | a related search. Under the "Premium links" box is the |
| quarterly basis (13)."The countries of Europe have | | | | "Daily resources box" which provides links ranging from |
| been involved in a long and complex process of | | | | links to world newspapers to Grumpy's humor. At the |
| European integration. The EU was formed 1 November | | | | top of the page there are a number of headings |
| 1993 and is a union of 25 independent states | | | | ranging from careers and education to auctions.The |
| (Appendix 1) (14). As one of its objectives; the EU has | | | | interesting thing is that when you click on auctions it |
| taken on the challenge of integrating member states | | | | takes you directly to au. However, the careers and |
| and surrounding countries to provide them with stable | | | | education tab is far more objective. This link provides a |
| Internet and E-commerce development and growth | | | | menu on the left with a variety of helpful links and then |
| (15). Alltheweb and Ezilon are two of the many search | | | | articles with links in the center of the page. The |
| engine companies that are seeking to capitalize on the | | | | "Search" field is displayed in the center of the page |
| opportunity provided by the EU integration.History of | | | | however; it is not very prominent once barraged by |
| AllthewebFast Search and Transfer (Fast) ASA | | | | ads, premium links and advertisements. The |
| started business operations in 1997 in Oslo, Norway. In | | | | "Advanced search" has an interesting feature which |
| June 2001 they went public. Fast is an outgrowth of | | | | enables people to search by "nice to have words", |
| academic research and development from the | | | | "must have words", "nice to have phrase", and the |
| Norwegian University of Science and Technology (16). | | | | ability to eliminate certain words. This feature becomes |
| Fast Search and Transfer launched Alltheweb in May | | | | very convenient when a user wishes to narrow the |
| 1999 and gave it the brand name of "Fast" until 2001, | | | | results to a desired city under "nice to have words". By |
| when the site was redesigned under the "Alltheweb" | | | | focusing the search in such a way, the information |
| brand. Alltheweb, then became a public search engine | | | | delivered is made more relevant without eliminating too |
| and technology showcase for the Fast Search | | | | many possible matches. Another nice feature is that |
| Company (17). In February of 2003, Overture | | | | "Advanced search" enables people to specifically |
| announced they would purchase Alltheweb from Fast. | | | | search all Australian pages, Australian government |
| The acquisition, coupled with their previous | | | | sites, or Australian educational pages.UK Search |
| announcement to purchase the AltaVista Company, | | | | EnginesIntroductionThe population of UK as of July |
| helped Overture to bolster their leadership in | | | | 2004 is 60,270,708 with 25,000,000 internet users (24). |
| commercial search and aligned the company to create | | | | There are approximately 40 top Search engines in the |
| the most comprehensive search capability on the | | | | UK; some of them are familiar to the United Stated |
| Internet (18). Yahoo! Corporation bought Overture on | | | | such as Google, Yahoo and Overture. These search |
| October 7, 2003 to fortify itself for an eventual | | | | engines are custom suited to have optional searches, |
| showdown with Google and Microsoft (19).General | | | | whether regional searches within the UK or on the |
| InformationAlltheweb now has all of the indexing | | | | Entire World Wide Web. Some search engines within |
| power of Google. Through the acquisition process, | | | | the UK are more specialized; where you have to pay |
| Alltheweb has increased its prowess to become a | | | | a subscription to use that particular search engine, for |
| leader in the search engine community throughout | | | | example UK Plus and UK Index. And some search |
| Europe (19). Its employees strive to help Yahoo | | | | engines like Great British Pages, only search for British |
| provide the best public search engine not just in | | | | websites (39). Being a developed country, it is not |
| Europe, but the world.Alltheweb HomepagePulling up | | | | surprising that the UK has a large number of search |
| the Alltheweb homepage (20) the user is provided with | | | | engines. The following section of the paper is focused |
| a simple and easy to navigate site. Alltheweb | | | | on UK originated search engines.History of |
| homepage contains five tabs: web, news, pictures, | | | | ExciteExcite was originally formed in 1993 by five |
| video and audio. However, the user has to search for | | | | Stanford university graduates who called their search |
| a specific topic to find information in these categories | | | | engine Architext. This was further developed by |
| rather than information being available for them on the | | | | students attending Stanford and in 1994 Excite Inc. |
| site. All "sponsored links" are viewed to the right of the | | | | came about and was launched in 1995. Excite only |
| page where they are available if desired. Only after | | | | acquired a web crawler in November 1996 and over |
| glancing through all of the paid links does the viewer | | | | the years they added features and software and the |
| come to the most relevant search returns. On | | | | option of search on the World Wide Web. Regional |
| completion of a search for a topic the user is provided | | | | search engines such as Excite UK were added to |
| with an option to "Refine your search" which provides | | | | their search engine. Excite has an index of 250,000,000 |
| further subcategories on the topic. Other features | | | | pages and multimedia items in 2000 and about |
| offered on Alltheweb are the ability to filter potential | | | | 19,000,000 monthly users (40).General InformationUsing |
| offensive content, restrict the number of results per | | | | a specific UK search engine such as Excite UK can |
| page, highlight search terms, change text size, and the | | | | be beneficial. Excite UK will limit your search |
| ability to open search results in a new window. You | | | | geographically and the users results will come out in a |
| can select up to 8 preferred languages from a list of | | | | smaller scale providing more relevant results (41). If a |
| 36.History of search engine was founded to allow | | | | user in the UK wants to find out about local news or |
| individuals and companies around the world to access | | | | check the stock of UK companies a regional search |
| information easily, particularly by the EU community. (21) | | | | engine will provide more relevant information.Excite |
| The Ezilon homepage states that is a European Union | | | | HomepageFeatures of Excite UK are different |
| International Search Engine and Directory. (22)General | | | | compared to the usual "dot com" American search |
| InformationEzilon search engine provides a searchable | | | | engines. The Excite UK search engine homepage has |
| directory for European websites ranging from Europe | | | | the search box in a prominent position at the top of |
| travel links, business, hotels, news and classified ads | | | | the page with options located below to search the |
| and most especially links from the Western European | | | | World Wide Web or only UK sites. In this respect it is a |
| countries. They also accept listings for non EU | | | | dual search engine (UK and World Wide Web) (40, |
| websites, but they must have contents of interest to | | | | 42). Excite UK has a General User Interface (GUI) |
| the EU or general Europe. (23)Ezilon HomepageEzilon | | | | which is very busy, meaning that it has a lot of |
| homepage has immediately accessible information on | | | | information on its homepage ranging from UK news |
| it. Unlike other websites which present "Sponsored | | | | headlines and images, UK stocks, UK online shopping, |
| links" Ezilon provides "Sponsored matches" prior to the | | | | UK stores, standard horoscopes, local weather, a |
| search results. Ezilon's "Sponsored matches" can be | | | | directory, and various other services targeted for |
| viewed to the right of the page.Ezilon specializes, | | | | people living in the UK (42). The Excite homepage is |
| through the guidance of the EU, in pooling and | | | | also customizable, in that you are able to change the |
| distributing information for the advancement of a united | | | | color of the homepage (skins) according to your |
| Europe. Other convenient features available to users | | | | favorite color or to the colors of your favorite football |
| are: popular links, weather forecast and headline news. | | | | team. Besides just searching the web on Excite, you |
| Various categories are available for search e.g., art, | | | | can search using "Categories" for images, videos, |
| science, business, technology etc. Users have an | | | | mp3s, news, and people. The excite UK homepage |
| option to search the EU, UK or the World. In addition to | | | | also has a currency calculator under the "Tools" |
| all above mentioned features free email is provided to | | | | section. Excite UK displays minimum advertising. When |
| members of Ezilon.Canadian Search | | | | a user clicks on the "More" button different |
| EnginesIntroductionAs of July 1, 2004 estimated | | | | subcategories within a search can be selected |
| population of Canada is 32,247,874 with 16,19,000 | | | | (43).ConclusionSearch engines have become an |
| internet users (24). Canada today stands at the | | | | integral part of internet use for the average computer |
| number 7 position among countries with internet users | | | | user. As more information becomes accessible on the |
| (25). There are 13 provinces and territories in Canada | | | | internet, the need for credible search engines |
| and the usage of search engines varies by these | | | | increases. As Professor Krishnamurthy stated in class, |
| provinces and territories (26). This section will focus on | | | | the amount of content available on the internet has |
| only two of the top five most commonly used | | | | grown exponentially in recent years and as it grows |
| Canadian Search Engines: AltaVista Canada and AOL | | | | people's search cost will increase unless search |
| Canada (27). The following sections will provide a brief | | | | technology improves (38). Throughout the world, |
| history, general information and information about the | | | | internet users are provided with various search |
| homepages of these two search engines.History of | | | | engines that offer different features depending on their |
| AltaVista CanadaAltaVista, which means "a view from | | | | user needs. The fulfillment of these needs result in the |
| above," was inspired by the creation of big ideas from | | | | success of search engines around the world. |