ITIS 1210ITIS 1210Introduction to Web-Based Introduction to Web-Based

Information SystemsInformation Systems

Internet Research FourInternet Research FourFinding Specialty InformationFinding Specialty Information

IntroductionIntroduction

What if you need very specific What if you need very specific information?information? AddressesAddresses Telephone numbersTelephone numbers Definition of a wordDefinition of a word Web site for a businessWeb site for a business

IntroductionIntroduction

May be stored in an online databaseMay be stored in an online database Usually not indexed by search enginesUsually not indexed by search engines

Specialty Web sites includeSpecialty Web sites include Telephone directoriesTelephone directories MapsMaps PeriodicalsPeriodicals Government sitesGovernment sites Mailing lists/newsgroupsMailing lists/newsgroups

IntroductionIntroduction

Usually must visit each site independently Usually must visit each site independently to find informationto find information

Now can use intelligent agents to search Now can use intelligent agents to search for youfor you

Specialty InformationSpecialty Information

Search engines know about the visible Search engines know about the visible WebWeb

What about the invisible (deep) Web?What about the invisible (deep) Web? Online databases not indexed by search Online databases not indexed by search

enginesengines Usually require direct accessUsually require direct access

May require username/passwordMay require username/password May be dynamically generated based on a May be dynamically generated based on a

specific queryspecific query

Specialty InformationSpecialty Information

Deep Web

Visible Web

DatabasesPassword

protected files

Newsgroups

Dynamically generated pages

File formats (.pdf, .xls, .doc, .ppt

, …)

Specialty InformationSpecialty Information

How to find specialty information?How to find specialty information? Search via a specialty Web siteSearch via a specialty Web site May require subscriptionMay require subscription Libraries are good resourcesLibraries are good resources

ProQuestProQuest EBSCOHostEBSCOHost

Specialty InformationSpecialty Information

Scope or focusScope or focus Tends to be narrowTends to be narrow

Higher quality for specific purposeHigher quality for specific purpose

May find overlap with multiple sites on the May find overlap with multiple sites on the same general subjectsame general subject

Specialty InformationSpecialty Information

Free or pay?Free or pay? General information may be freeGeneral information may be free

Details you have to pay forDetails you have to pay for

May require registrationMay require registration Name, address, email, credit cardName, address, email, credit card Often a means to spam youOften a means to spam you

Current information may be freeCurrent information may be free Archived information requires subscription/feeArchived information requires subscription/fee

Review privacy policiesReview privacy policies

Specialty InformationSpecialty Information

Incomplete coverageIncomplete coverage Up-to-date information hard to come byUp-to-date information hard to come by ValuableValuable May have to pay for itMay have to pay for it Access may be restricted by ownerAccess may be restricted by owner

Corporate informationCorporate information Trade secretsTrade secrets Inventory databaseInventory database Employee directoriesEmployee directories

Finding People or PlacesFinding People or Places

Search bySearch by NameName Phone numberPhone number Street addressStreet address Email addressEmail address

Not necessarily comprehensiveNot necessarily comprehensive Individuals may opt outIndividuals may opt out People movePeople move

Finding People or PlacesFinding People or Places

Where to go for people?Where to go for people? Yahoo people search WhoWhere Switchboard WhitePages US Search

Finding People or PlacesFinding People or Places

Where to go for maps?Where to go for maps? MapQuest Yahoo Maps WhereIs EarthCam Google Maps

Strange mapStrange map Dig a Hole

Finding BusinessesFinding Businesses

Yellow PagesYellow Pages Yellow.com YellowPages.com InfoSpace.com AnyWho

InternationalInternational Europages

Finding BusinessesFinding Businesses

Reverse lookupsReverse lookups ReversePhoneDirectory.com AnyWho.com InfoSpace.com

Searching PeriodicalsSearching Periodicals

Periodical databases includePeriodical databases include Popular magazinesPopular magazines NewspapersNewspapers Scholarly journalsScholarly journals

Some may be online onlySome may be online only Salon.comSalon.com

May not carry same stories as print May not carry same stories as print versionversion

Searching PeriodicalsSearching Periodicals

Subscription databasesSubscription databases ProquestProquest InfoTracInfoTrac

SearchableSearchable MagPortal.comMagPortal.com FindArticles FindArticles

Government InformationGovernment Information

Portals are commonPortals are common FedWorld.gov FirstGov.gov Government Printing Office

Online ReferenceOnline Reference

Lots of kindsLots of kinds AlmanacsAlmanacs DictionariesDictionaries EncyclopediasEncyclopedias DirectoriesDirectories

May be licensed for patron use onlyMay be licensed for patron use only May be able to access from homeMay be able to access from home

Online ReferenceOnline Reference

ResourcesResources FILExt.com – File extensions – File extensions Netiquette – Online etiquette – Online etiquette Wikipedia.org – Encyclopedia – Encyclopedia Webopedia.com - Encyclopedia - Encyclopedia m-w.com – Dictionary – Dictionary

Mailing Lists & NewsgroupsMailing Lists & Newsgroups

Web is not just informationWeb is not just information Communication and InteractionCommunication and Interaction

Mailing lists (listserv)Mailing lists (listserv) Automatically email all subscribersAutomatically email all subscribers

Newsgroups (Usenet)Newsgroups (Usenet) Virtual bulletin boardsVirtual bulletin boards Messages postedMessages posted Can read and respondCan read and respond

Mailing Lists & NewsgroupsMailing Lists & Newsgroups

Mailing list resourcesMailing list resources LSoftLSoft coollistcoollist MailmanMailman

Newsgroup resourcesNewsgroup resources newzbot.comnewzbot.com Usenet PortalUsenet Portal Google GroupsGoogle Groups

Intelligent AgentsIntelligent Agents

As Internet grows, finding the right As Internet grows, finding the right information becomes harder and harderinformation becomes harder and harder

New tools evolving: intelligent search agentNew tools evolving: intelligent search agent Software that automates searchesSoftware that automates searches ““Knows” how to query parts of deep WebKnows” how to query parts of deep Web Can rank & sort resultsCan rank & sort results

Intelligent AgentsIntelligent Agents

ResourcesResources AgentLandAgentLand BotSpotBotSpot 123bots123bots Popup-bustersPopup-busters Intelligent AgentsIntelligent Agents