Comments on: Three cheers for federated search http://federatedsearchblog.com/2009/04/29/three-cheers-for-federated-search/ Covers topics related to federated search and the deep web Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:01:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sol http://federatedsearchblog.com/2009/04/29/three-cheers-for-federated-search/comment-page-1/#comment-25291 Sol Sat, 02 May 2009 01:28:37 +0000 http://federatedsearchblog.com/?p=352#comment-25291 Jonathan -- Good point. I know you've been discussing the topic at code4lib. It is indeed a muddy issue and, now that I think about it, I am aware that "federated search" is sometimes used to refer to aggregated index. And, an aggregated index does "federate" content from different sources. Yuck!! Jonathan — Good point. I know you’ve been discussing the topic at code4lib. It is indeed a muddy issue and, now that I think about it, I am aware that “federated search” is sometimes used to refer to aggregated index. And, an aggregated index does “federate” content from different sources. Yuck!!

]]> By: Jonathan Rochkind http://federatedsearchblog.com/2009/04/29/three-cheers-for-federated-search/comment-page-1/#comment-25170 Jonathan Rochkind Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:21:31 +0000 http://federatedsearchblog.com/?p=352#comment-25170 Actually some people insist that "federated search" actually ONLY refers to an aggregated index like Google Scholar, and _shouldn't_ be used to refer to broadcast search! It's clear the word has been used to refer to both aggregated index and broadcast search "multiple source search" technology. There's no going back in time to make the word mean the 'right' thing, and besides there are two conflicting sides on what the 'right' thing is! I'm accepting that both 'federated search' and 'meta-search' are used in common parlance (to the extent that they are at all!) to mean any kind of technology that lets you search multiple sources at once. I'm suggesting 'aggregated index' and 'broadcast search' as terms of art for the specific technology, that are minimally likely to have their meanings changed in the future, they're as succinct but still specific as anything I can think of. Actually some people insist that “federated search” actually ONLY refers to an aggregated index like Google Scholar, and _shouldn’t_ be used to refer to broadcast search!

It’s clear the word has been used to refer to both aggregated index and broadcast search “multiple source search” technology. There’s no going back in time to make the word mean the ‘right’ thing, and besides there are two conflicting sides on what the ‘right’ thing is!

I’m accepting that both ‘federated search’ and ‘meta-search’ are used in common parlance (to the extent that they are at all!) to mean any kind of technology that lets you search multiple sources at once.

I’m suggesting ‘aggregated index’ and ‘broadcast search’ as terms of art for the specific technology, that are minimally likely to have their meanings changed in the future, they’re as succinct but still specific as anything I can think of.

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