Search Engines
The use of Web icons on popular search engines is nearly non existent. Below is a list of 25 major search engines on the Internet. The list of search engine was primarily compiled from Search Engine Watch. Each site is listed below and includes; (1) name of the search engine, (2) comments regarding the use of icons, (3) any relevant graphics, and (4) the URL and link. To properly understand these icons it is necessary to actually visit the page and take note of their location on the page.
AOL Search - http://search.aol.com
This site does not contain Web icons.
AltaVista - http://www.altavista.com
This site does not contain Web icons.
Ask Jeeves - http://www.askjeeves.com
This site does not contain Web icons.
Direct Hit - http://www.directhit.com
This site contains three icons. Two that are orange and one that is an arrow for the
search function. The orange shopping cart icon and figure icon both represent different content areas of the site. By placing the shopping cart icon prominently on the site the site authors are placing greater
importance on shopping. However, the visitor probably came to the site to perform a search. The WebWatch icon, represented by a stick figure, is a poor symbol for the concept of popularity.
Excite - http://w ww.excit e.com
This site contains a minimal amount of icons. The icons signify a link to a functional subsection.
FAST Search - http://www.alltheweb.com
This site does not contain Web icons. The site is very minimal with a logo graphic only.
Go / Infoseek - http://www.go.com
This site contains one icon containing a question mark.
GoTo - http://www.goto.com
This site contains two icons, a shopping bag icon representing e-commerce
comparison shopping and a puppy dog icon representing auctions. The shopping bag is well design and easily
identifiable, it also fits into the site branding. The puppy icon does not seem to be easily recognizable as an auction concept.
Google - http://www.google.com
This
site contains two blue ball bullets as indicators, however these do not really function the
way Web icons do. The bullets simply call attention to the text.
HotBot -
http://www.hotbot.com
This site does not contain Web icons.
IWon - http://www.iwon.com
This site has professionally designed Web icons that appropriately represent their function or information group. ( Quicktour page that mentions "My icons".)
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Inktomi - http://www.inktomi.com
This site does not contain Web icons.
LookSmart - http://www.looksmart.com
This site does not contain Web icons.
Lycos - http://www.lycos.com
This site contains one Web icon if the black retriever which seems to be
slightly different at different times. The "MP3 dog" searches for music files, the "model search dog" searches for men and women models...it does not represent the ideal or model search mechanism. A small graphic cloud is
part of the weather news but this graphic does not perform a function other than signifying the weather condition
.
MSN Search - http://search.msn.com
This site does not contain Web icons.
Mamma - http://www.mamma.com
The Web icons on this site are extensive, well placed, well designed and they reinforce the site's brand image.
Netscape Search - http://search.netscape.com
This site does not contain Web icons.
Northern Light -
http://www.northernlight.com
This site contains many small graphics that represent informational categories.
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Open Directory - http://dmoz.org
This site does not contain Web icons.
Raging Search - http://www.raging.com
This site does not contain Web icons.
RealNames - http://www.realnames.com
This site does not contain Web icons.
Snap - http://www.snap.com
This site contains one Web icon, an envelop representing free e-mail.
WebCrawler -
http://www.webcrawler.com
This site does not contain Web icons.
Yahoo! -
http://www.yahoo.com
Yahoo!'s use of icons is minimal but it does support their lighthearted approach to branding. The images within the icons support the relationship to the object fairly well. The What's New
icon is unique and intelligent but may not be easily decoded by users as a chick breaking free of an egg. The Messenger icon is difficult to interpret, even though it is a smiley
face with a talking balloon, the execution requires a bit more investigation than simply a glance.
WebTop - http://www.webtop.com
The two icons on this site are designed to be part of the navigation bar, one links to the home page, one to the navigation help section.
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