Computer and Library Learning (Archived)

Google created ripples amongst search engine users recently when it dropped its plus (+) operator in Boolean searches, only to replace it with the quotation marks operator using enclosing double quotation marks (“  “). A Google spokesperson noted that this operator can be placed around a single word in order to get an exact match. Arguably, this move has created awkwardness and confusion in the internet world as experienced searchers were used to using the plus (+) operator to include words in a search and the double quotation marks (“ “) to place words in a specific order. In the past, one could have used both operators in the same search to stress the inclusion of an exact phrase or word order. In a broader context, the end of the plus (+) operator came as Google+ (Google Plus or G+), Google’s attempt at social networking, continues to grow in popularity and the company emphasizes its focus. Google also discontinued iGoogle, Google Reader’s social features, Google Labs, Buzz, Jaiku and Code Search.

Google also adjusted its search algorithm to include new information on topics that might be trending, recurring or often updated within the context of its “Caffeine” web indexing system. One possible concern is whether the quality of information is being sacrificed for the currency of information; however, in fairness, Google has used people called “raters” to evaluate the search quality of before and after the change in the search algorithm.

A user of Google Plus named Cyrus Shepard uncovered another tweak in Google Search called “Sources” that listed source or information boxes to the right of the results list (including sources such as Wikipedia) when he searched for “Rihanna” and “Twitter”. However, the efficacy of the results was mixed as the Twitter icon on the right did not take Mr. Shepard to the Twitter web site but to another web site that discussed Twitter releasing an app for Android. Not everyone was able to use “Sources” but Google acknowledged afterwards that this feature was being tested.