by Todd Rosen
Computers and the Internet get faster and easier to use every year, but when programs gain the ability to learn and use the information like with SearchPad, the HAL 9000 can’t be far away! SearchPad is a new way of searching for information over the Inte rnet.
It is an Internet search program that resides on your PC and uses many (eleven) of the search engines. It helps solve the information overload problems by maximizing the amount of data found in the least amount of time. SearchPad is an ideal Internet too l that customizes your search, learns from previous searches and summarizes the results, while showing you how may hits of data each search engine found.
The first question that you have is: “Why?” After trying SearchPad, you will know the answer. During many Internet searches with standard search engines, one or no hits of data were found. A minimum of 26 hits of data were found using SearchPad for the s ame searches. SearchPad is a successful web tool, which learns your search profiles and preferences to classify documents retrieved. With over 75 million Internet users, if you need to find data on the Internet, SearchPad is the way to go!
Your second question is “How?” SearchPad is based on a highly advanced Pattern Recognition Algorithm. It uses Internet search engines like Yahoo, Altavista, Infoseek, Excite Magellan, etc., to find relevant information based on your Query. SearchPad clas sifies this information into appropriate categories based on your feedback. Using this feedback, SearchPad learns and eliminates all unwanted or irrelevant information quickly. SearchPad finds instead of searching.
“What else?” you ask. SearchPad saves you time and allows you to be more productive. SearchPad is the first product of its kind that combines artificial intelligence and pattern recognition to provide a filtering system that learns from each query. By co llecting data from each of the queries and categorizing it based on the user’s interest, SearchPad builds a knowledge base that it can learn from. SearchPad also supports advanced queries. Apart from giving ordinary queries (supported by most Search Engi nes), a user can specify complex queries using Boolean operators and Near operators. Multiple queries are also supported allowing you to obtain simultaneous results. With the upgrade, queries can be scheduled to automatically download in your absence. On ce finished, the active Internet session is shut off. SearchPad can also create “books” on special areas of interest, supporting URLs for metasearch. SearchPad is easy to use, and you don’t need to read a book to get started (you don’t even need to know about Boolean or Metasearch). It works unexpectedly quickly and is exceptionally powerful. Expect to see this technology expand.
SearchPad comes on a CD, is very easy to install and has an on-line product demo. SearchPad takes 12mb of hard drive space and 16mb of RAM. It runs on Windows 95, 98 and NT with a minimum of a 486 processor. It is compatible with Netscape and Microsoft I E and needs an Internet connection. SearchPad was developed by Satyam Spark Solutions, a consulting and software company in India. Its local partner is Technocratix of Phoenix, AZ. Technical support is disappointing with no voice support. It is available through their web page at www.satyam.com/~searchpad or by e-mail at techsupport@satyamblr.satyam.com.
SearchPad is a terrific $39.99 program. Unfortunately, the program retails for $149.95, not $39.99. Nevertheless, SearchPad is the wave of the future. You can download a 30-day trial version for free from their web page (address above). Download and try this new technology. You be the judge!
Todd Rosen, a HAL-PC member, is the Internet course Instructor and IS for Southwestern Bell. He can be contacted at utmr@hal-pc.org.
E-mail me at webmaster@hal-pc.org with any comments you have and tell me what you want to see here.