Re: Internet search engines and databases

You have raised some excellent points. Take a look at www.mallagent.com. We are doing exactly what you are asking for, an XML-based dynamic querying site to bring multiple database search results on one page. Our database is the whole Internet.

In article <08ec726e.812ee423_at_usw-ex0102- 014.remarq.com>,
Tony Fulford
<tony_fulfordNOtoSPAM_at_ibm.net.invalid> wrote:
> I would like to start a new thread to discuss
 the future of
> searching
> the internet.
>
> Internet search engines utilize the accessible
 content of a
> website to
> generate their search results. More and more
 website content is
> being
> placed in databases and served dynamically to
 users as required.
> The
> information in these databases is not available
 to search engines
> because the databases have security mechanisms
 (e.g., username &
> password) to prevent access. As more and more
 websites become
> based on
> information contained in databases, the search
 results be come
> increasingly sparse and inaccurate.
>
> I have already found that when I want to find
 an item, a
> particular
> model computer printer (using model number for
 the search) for
> example,
> I will not get a hit from many websites via the
 search engines,
> yet if I
> go to the websites and search, I do get a
 search hit. So where
> will this
> leave us for comparison shopping for products.
>
> Are web search engines going to be relegated to
 providing search
> results
> from websites which only have static content?
>
> Are there ways to let search engines have
 access to databases
> without
> giving away the store (i.e., family jewels)?
>
> If we give search engines access to the
 databases, how do they
> know how
> to search them (e.g., databases, tables,
 columns, etc.)?
>
> Is it possible to generate an XML standard
 which would allow
> general
> access to most databases?
>
> Do we need some standards for databases which
 want to participate
> with
> search engines?
>
> The future of internet navigation and true
 competitive x-commerce
> depends on resolution of this problem. Let's
 get started!
>
> Tony Fulford
> Business User Software
>
> * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The
 Internet's Discussion Network *
> The fastest and easiest way to search and
 participate in Usenet - Free!
>
>

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy. Received on Thu Mar 30 2000 - 00:00:00 CEST