An analysis of multimedia searching on AltaVista

ABSTRACT

Web searching is a significant activity for many people seeking multimedia information. Major Web search engines, such as Alta Vista, are essential tools in the quest to locate relevant online information. As such, it is important that we understand how searchers utilize these Web information systems. This paper presents research that examines characteristics of multimedia Web searching on Alta Vista. More specifically, the research questions driving this study are: (1) What are the characteristics of multimedia searching on Alta Vista? and (2) How does this multimedia searching compare to Web searching in general? The results of our research show that multimedia searching is complex relative to general Web searching and that searching specific multimedia collections does not necessarily reduce the searching complexity. We discuss the implications of the findings for the development of online multimedia retrieval systems.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
      H.3.3 Information Search and Retrieval
          Subjects: Search process

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
      H.3.5 On-line Information Services
          Subjects: Web-based services

General Terms:
Experimentation, Human Factors, Measurement

Keywords:
Web searching, multimedia searching, search engines