[Sigia-l] Findability

[Boniface Lau]

> From: sigia-l-admin at asis.org [mailto:sigia-l-admin at asis.org]On
> Behalf Of Peter VanDijck
> 
> > Unless what XYZ was searching for was not important, sooner or
> > later XYZ will use the advanced search.
> 
> No, that's too simple. 
> 
> A user will use an alternative search *strategy* if using search
> doesn't work for them. Using an advanced search interface is only
> one such search strategies, and not a particularly popular
> one. Others could be:
> 
> - ask a friend
> - go to a shop
> - delay looking for it
> - go to Yahoo.com and browse the categories to find a good site
> - look in a book for an answer
> - think about alternative products/information that can fill the
>   need
> - and so on...

Well, to be specific, let's say people are looking to buy books from
on-line bookstores and are aware of several such stores. When the
keyword search on one store failed, did you really think people would
use any of your above alternatives before going to another on-line
store or trying the advanced search?

Or let's say people went to Yahoo to find out about the "sapphire
worm" and didn't get what they were looking for. Did you really think
people would try any of your above alternatives before doing a Google
search?

Isn't a Google search much more efficient than browsing the Yahoo
categories?  After all, Google search is only one click away. It beats
diving in and out of a sea of categories.

Speaking of the sea of categories, it reminds me of the overwhelmed
feeling when browsing the Yahoo categories. Bear in mind that our
perception of the world is very subjective. Thus, following someone
else's categories is like following someone else's perception of the
realities - very awkward as one dives deeper and deeper. It is no
where as pleasant as doing a search. Thus, the only time I would use
the Yahoo categories is as a last resort, i.e. when I am _truly_ lost
and therefore willing to be *led* by someone else's perception of the
reality.


Boniface