Beyond Dogpile

1
Beyond Dogpile

• Using Meta-Search Tools
• By Kelli Testa

2
Have you ever used www.dogpile.com?

• Its a multisearch engine, cousin to the
  meta-search tools were about to examine.

3
What is a Meta-Search Tool?

• Sends your query to multiple search engines.
• They dont have their own databases like search
  engines do.
• Used when a traditional search engine hasnt been
  useful or
• When trying to determine how much information is
  on the web about a certain topic.
• Exposes you to search engines you wouldnt
  normally use. Ever hear of Sprinks?

4
Examples of When to Use the Meta-Search Tools

• When looking for plans to build a doghouse.
• When looking for Boston terrier breeders.
• When looking for pet friendly hotels.

5
What are other topics I could use for a
meta-search?

• With a partner, write three good questions for a
  meta-search. Turn the questions into keywords.

6
Meta-Search Tool Analogy

• A general contractor is like a meta-search tool
  because he hires the sub contractors to do the
  work he isnt trained for just as the meta-search
  tools hire the search engines because they
  dont have their own databases.

7
Create Your Own Meta-Search Analogy! (If you can
involve an animal, you get extra points!)
8
Three Meta-Search Engines

• Vivissimo www.vivissimo.com
• Ixquick www.ixquick.com
• Profusion www.profusion.com

9
Vivissimo
www.lib.berkeley.edu
10
Ixquick
www.lib.berkeley.edu
11
Profusion
www.lib.berkeley.edu
12
Activity

• Choose one of the three questions you wrote
  earlier.
• Using the keywords, search Vivissimo, Ixquick,
  and Profusion.
• List the number of results and provide a
  percentage of accuracy for each results list.

13
Discussion

• Which meta-search engine provided the most
  accurate results?
• Which one was easiest to use? Why?

14
Use meta-search engines when you want to view
results from many search engines at the same time

• But like all other tools, they shouldnt be used
  for every dog gone job.

15
Works Cited

• Barker, Joe. What are Meta-Search Engines?
  Meta-Search Engines 11Feb2002. University of
  California, Berkeley. 22July2002.
  Metasearch.html.
• Special thanks to Koko and Maddy.