Internet Research Project

Name of Source: Middlespot
Summary of Source: Middlespot is an internet search engine that creates personal "mash tabs" and allows the user to search sources on the web through a visual interface, which pulls up hits from a wide array of sources, including music and video. Once a keyword is searched out Middlespot posts the hits on the page in a format that allows the user to see the source on Middlespot without needing to clink any link to view the material unless they want to be directed to the actual site instead. The user can look down a list to the left side of the screen that shows the hits in order of relevance and on the right, consuming most of the screen, are the corresponding options for the user to toggle through and investigate. Using the zoom button the user can even read the whole article from each link and then zoom back out and continue on to the next one.
Source Strengths: Mash tabs create for a convenient, personalized way to group searches. The interface gives the user the option view search results without leaving actual search engine. The interactive interface creates a fun and interesting way to construct searches. Middlespot pulls hits from all sorts of hits and relative information which is very useful, making it a well rounded source. It supports Boolean and Mathematical Operators. It is also capable of performing searches in different languages.
Source Weaknesses: Middlespot is not a very well known search engine and can be dwarfed by other more popular search engines. Although the unique interface and use of mash tabs is convenient and useful, it can become overwhelming and somewhat confusing, especially likely to become so to novice users. If a very broad search is being conducted the interface may become cumbersome in navigating the results. It also offers no Advanced Search Options.
Search Engines, Directories, and Other Applications Searched: Along with searching the web, Middlespot also connects to images, Amazon, Twitter, and headline news sites.
Databases: Middlespot searches its own database along with the web that its spiders have crawled. Middlespot is a search engine and therefore cannot pull out the invisible information on the web but can search it's own vast supply of data.
Operators: Middlespot supports both Boolean and Mathematical Operators to narrow and provide more refined search results.
Case Sensitivity: Middlespot is not case sensitive in its searches and the same number of results are returned no matter what the case choice entered.
Stop Words: All words that are typed in the search box are searched. There are no stop words in Middlespot.
Advanced Search Function: There are no advanced search options in Middlespot. It does however offer related searches at the bottom of the page that might relate to the current search but there are no options for an advanced search.
Limits: Although Middlespot is definitely a user friendly search engine it can offer too many results and it does not allow for advanced search, which is a tool that may become necessary to some users in their searches.
Sorting: All hits are organized by perceived relevance to keywords entered. There are no options for any other form of sorting results.
Display: Middlespot provides a brief title that encapsulates the material on the page and then a few excerpts from the page follow, with the keywords used displayed in bold. The site url then ends the entry at the bottom. Options for related search and "add to mash tab" are also attached to each result. The results are displayed 25 at a time, again in a running column down the left side and then the actual pages displayed to the right of that in columns, originally set to 4 but can also be changed to display anywhere between 1 and 10 columns on the page.
Help Function: Middlespot contains a tips, tutorials, and about tab. These tabs provide information on how to best use Middlespot and information about the search engine itself.
Special Features: Besides the personalized mash tabs and the intricate display once searched, Middlespot also provides a history of recent searches on the left hand once the home page is returned to. This keeps track of the exact keywords used, where they were searched, and what date they were searched on. The most unique and enticing aspect of Middlespot, though, remains the option to create personalized mash tabs to keep track of related searches and then use them as part of a social bookmarking by sharing them.