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News >> Technology >>
Google creates customized search engines
By agencies
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Wednesday, 25 October 2006, 19:30 IST
Mumbai: Google has announced that it will allow users create customized search engines to suit their tastes and preferences. Called "Google Custom Search Engine," the service is designed to allow users place personal search engines on their Web sites and/or blogs. According to a company source, the tool enables users to search just the content that they prefer, cutting through the chaff.
Although the concept of a custom search engine is not entirely new, observers are saying that Google's release goes far beyond what rivals like Yahoo! are currently offering in this space, typically known as social search. Also, the new service aims at strengthening vertical search, an area hitherto dominated largely by small competitors.
In order to place a custom Google search box on their Web sites or blogs, users need to visit google.com/coop/cse, and specify a list of Web sites to search. The custom search engine can either be set up to search the entire Web but stress on chosen sites, or to search only specified Web sites/Web pages. Alternatively, users can set up a search engine to focus entirely on their own Web sites.
Further, Web site owners who install a custom search engine would have to accept Google ads that come along with it, except in a few cases. In the event ads are accepted, revenue also stands to be shared between the Web site owner and Google.
The main advantage of custom search engines is that they make way for more specific results than are customary for a search engine like Google. And, to avoid confusion, all Web sites with custom engines would have to display a disclaimer next to the results they throw up.
As part of a test run, Web sites including Macworld, Intuit's JumpUp.com, and RealClimate.org already feature Google's customized search.
The company says, the new initiative is to make search more user-friendly and generate more interest to users by including their "favorites".