Day 5 Reflection-the meta search, the directories & the database

Today was about invisible web. We learnt about Invisible Web Databases. It is something new, like meta search and search directories. Ever since last week's lessons, i realised that using Google alone helps, but by using Meta Search engines and such can help widen the search and make your search more effective.

Some Databases are free, while some needs to be paid if one wishes to access. Its like a book where you have to pay to buy and read it, only that this one is online. An example of a database is actually the TP Digital Library Portal. After 3 years and now I realise what it is.
Meta searches engines, like http://www.mamma.com/, is simple, and only contains the search bar. When the advanced search is clicked on, it shows that it uses a few good search engines to find the resource. They use many search engines to widen the search.
Subject directories, on the other hand, like http://www.go.com/, similar to that of http://www.yahoo.com/, provides a list of directories that lists out different categories, which can help to narrow down the search. They also serve as an online catalogues.

There are pros and cons to both. Meta-Search Engine has a wider search, and is useful especially if its for global searches. Subject Directory is narrower and can be narrowed further, and it can help find a specific result if available. Both can provide useful searches and are easy to use. However, Meta searches search using many search engines while search directory only uses its own search engine. Meta searches cannot be narrowed down to a specific category like that of a Subject Directory.

Both provide different search results and have their own advantages and disadvantages. However, I would prefer the Meta search, as most of the results are relevant and useful. Although the Search Directory lists out a lot of results, not all are as useful. Meta search is wider and has a whole range of results which are useful from the different search engine it uses.

The benefits of using different search engines are such that each has their own strengths and usefulness. One can search a specific resource while one can search a lists of results that can be used to back the main one. By using all the search engines together, the results compiled would be very much effective and relevant.

Site feeds, or links, is useful. It is an easy , and fast access to a linked site, as one need not type the address. Also by doing so, people who visit your site can access to their site as well. It works as a publicity and awareness of a site, as when you link one up, people will tend to feel that it must be a good and useful site or one that is related to yours.