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