untangling_the_web

DID: 4046925
UNCLASSIFIEDNFOR OFFl61AL I:JSE ONLY
Casting a Wider Net-International
Search, Language Tools
International Search
I have tried to think of a better way to describe this topic, which I used to call "foreign
search" until I realized that what is "foreign" to some readers is "home" to others.
The concept I am trying to get across is simple: do not rely on your favorite search
engine for research. Simple idea, difficult implementation, because users naturally
and quite understandably have a very strong tendency to depend almost exclusively
on certain search tools that focus on their location, whether a specific country,
region, or city. That makes perfect sense until you try to find information about
and/or from other locales. "Vanilla" Google, Yahoo, and Live Search are targeted at
US users and locations, just as Baidu targets the Chinese audience. Researchers
must first get out of the habit of using US-centric search engines, then look for and
bookmark country and local search services to have them ready to hand.
US search engines have largely set the pace and the standards for search tools
around the world and, in many cases, are the engines underlying international
search sites. However, the target market for US search engines is the US user, not
the rest of the world. This means that when you are "traveling" on the web, you must
find and use search services that are appropriate to that region, country, or city.
What are some of the advantages of using regional search engines?
~ Focused search: regional or country-specific search engines often permit you
to search in one region ("all European countries," for example) or one country.
~ Focused data: most non-US search tools collect and store data primarily or
exclusively from their region or country.
~ Language selectivity: international search engines must offer the ability to
search in the native language(s).
~ Non-Latin code sets: the non-US search engines in countries that use non­
Latin character sets often allow you to input your query in one or more
character sets. Of course, your computer must already be configured to type
in the non-Latin characters (unless you want to resort to the cut and paste
approach).
~ Translation function: you may come across an unusual translation option in
an international search engine.
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