New Kids Search � Interface Enhances Access to EBSCO�s K-6 Databases - “oh, so they’ve decided to pay attention to kids,” is my first reaction. Then I see the screenshot. My suggestion: don’t call it “kids search” in huge letters at the top. Kids don’t want to be belittled, is what I think. Via Resourceshelf.
From metasearch to distributed information environments (Lorcan Dempsy) is a good overview on metasearch in the academic enviroment, and search/metadata APIs.
I looked at a number of the documents, including the first two PowerPoint files and the information on MXG. All worth looking at.
In terms of meta/federated search, those schools (first two PowerPoints) are definitely making leaps forward. The commercial and academic worlds are beginning to learn from each other. The improvements are great, but need to be much greater.
The MXG (.doc file) proposal looks to me like an attempt to make a simpler but not as great version of SRU, which tried to do the same for Z39.50. Which is good news, the authors seem to have the right attitude. I also like how they’ve made levels of the specification, each of which is more complicated, and thus closer to SRU (that last is SRU).
If I were them I’d think hard about OpenSearch. It is a much simpler specification (clearly not originating from the academic world) which accomplishes less than even MXG Level 1. But not that much less, considering how much easier it is to use.
One specific thing that OpenSearch does that the other specifications don’t, is allow search engines to use their own URL variables instead of predefined ones. It looks fairly trivial to me for this concept to be integrated into the SRU/MXG specifications.
Back to academic ‘multi’ search tools, there is UWhub, my personal project. Right now it does web search and image search (just added that this week), but I would definitely like to expand this to include searching within the school’s library, among other things.
Second p0st: Work at Broadband Mechanics - fantastic job if you can get it.
Is Google soft-launching some of their own translation software?
As you may know, Google uses (used?) Systran for their translation software, as do quite a few other major players. Google has also been working on their own translation software. I won’t go into the details of that, but if you conduct translations on Google and Systran now, the results seem different.
So is Google testing out their own translation software without announcing it? When Google launches it officially, you can be sure that it’ll be a huge announcement. Anyone want to run some tests on different translators to uncover more information?
Thanks to DeWitt, for (sorta) being the first to notice this.
This is a very significant move. Need I say more? Events and calendaring are gearing up to be huge. Does this deal have anything to do with the Google Calendar rumours? Via Software Only.
Join the Revolution - okay I planned on blogging this infinity ago (that’s internet time for you). Peter Caputa’s Whizspark is making a bold move. If you’re into running or promoting events - take a look.
Ning | Home: Front Page - I haven’t thoroughly delved into this yet, but it definitely deserves its own post. Looks to me like they’ve done a fantastic job so far. And “they” includes my friend Mike, who faithfully didn’t tell me what they were doing at all 
