Online Legal Research Resources – Part 2

This is part 2 (of 4) of a informal article written for the LAWASIA conference in Kuala Lumpur, 2008 (amended for context). Its a quick snapshot of the different types of Online Legal Research resources that are available in the Malaysian and Singaporean legal landscape.

Free Online Resources

Search Engines

The ubiquitous search engine is the first choice in any basic trawl for information. Search engines are able to give a snapshot of relevant sites, news, general details and principles. However, to get effective results, the technical limits of the search engine that is being used must be understood, as well as the context of the terms that are being searched for and also how the ranking and grouping of results takes place. For example, a search engine may not compile information or types of content from relevant jurisdictions or key sources, or may incorrectly give a low relevancy rank to a relevant website thereby relegating it to the third or fourth page. The user may never have the opportunity to access a relevant site, unless they are doggedly determined. Google has become synonymous with search engines, and with good reason. Its complicated algorithms and page rank analysis allow it to consistently display relevant and real results. Google was an internet leader in identifying the different silos and types of information online and making it easy for the user to sift through the type of content they wished to find. As such, Google has fostered a growing suite of specific services.One service is Google Books, which is a tool that searches the full text of books that have been scanned and stored in its digital database. A preview or snippet of the book is displayed based on the keywords the user has searched.

Besides Google, there are many other types of search engines which can cater more specifically to a user’s needs. Rednano.sg is a good case study. Red Nano searches over web content, and also the archives of The Straits Times (a leading Singapore newspaper) which are not accessible to other search engines. Immediately, the Singapore user is privy to search results that are more likely to be relevant. In addition, the results that are displayed are grouped firstly into findings from Singapore sources, and then into results gathered from the rest of the world. Another type of search is provided by Technorati.com which searches blogs and the other forms of independent, user-generated content (videos, photos etc) known as “citizen media”.

Article to be continued

Bingo!

Microsoft Bing Search Page

The year is 2009 A.D. The tech wars continue to rage on between the mighty Microsoft Empire and the all powerful Googleon Alliance. The Empire Microsoft have joined forces with the Rebel outfit Yahooies from sector 3 Alpha quadrant. Make no mistake people of the web-universe, we are in a web war in a battle to the death! *Cue Star Trek Fight Music!*

But seriously, this isn’t news to anyone. Since Bing was launched on June 3, 2009 with a whopping USD $80 million  marketing campaign and a newly announced strategic alliance with Yahoo – we find Bing slowly eating away at the Search Pie – that Google has dominated for so long.

Data Source: StatCounter

In one hefty blow – Microsoft has managed to take a 21% chunk of the Worldwide Search market and this may be growing as we speak. Bing is touted as a “Decision Engine” and the results look to speak for themselves. Search experts are raving on about how Bing provides a more precise search experience – results are shorter and more “valuable” as opposed to the one million results you receive when you use Google.

I’m a fan of Google Search but I’m also curious to see what Bing has to offer – I love the fact that Google changes its logo from time to time to reflect important moments in history. But hey, that daily wallpaper of fancy places on Earth is pretty snazzy as well. so which Search is best? Why not use BOTH! – http://www.bing-vs-google.com/

Try typing in “Search” into Bing vs Google and see what interesting results you get!

And so, weapons are loaded – Microsoft with Bing and Yahoo in the Search space while Google takes aim with the Chrome OS and Google Docs in the battle of the Windows and Office Desktop space.

Let the Web Wars continue…

Thoughts on Microsoft and Yahoo versus Google

Recently, Microsoft and Yahoo have brokered a deal which allows Microsofts Bing search engine to pair with Yahoos audience base and allowing Yahoo to focus on advertising and luring people to its websites. It also allows Yahoo and Microsoft to join forces and compete with the big G.

Image via CrunchBase

Quick thoughts on Microsoft and Yahoo versus Google:

Microsoft: Boo.Always Evil.

Yahoo: Yay. Nice name.

Google: Meh. Doing a good job, why hate em?

OK, not indepth journalism, just wanted to forge against the tide. And its very early morning at time of composition.

Once more with feeling: Boo, Yay and Meh.

Image via CrunchBase

Image via CrunchBase