• From: "Michael S. Brothers" <Michael.S.Brothers@E...>
• To: Tim Bray <tbray@t...>
• Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 12:59:14 -0600 (Central Standard Time)

On Thu, 30 Mar 2000 07:53:54 -0800 Tim Bray <tbray@t...> 
wrote:

> At 10:46 AM 3/30/00 +0100, Kay Michael wrote:
> >
> >I really think you need to distinguish between a query engine and a search
> >engine. Query engines answer questions like "find me all documents that have
> >an <xyz> element as the third grandchild of an <abc> element". Search
> >engines answer questions like "have you got anything about the causes of
> >hyperinflation in inter-war Germany?"
> 
> I think what you're talking about would normally be called an Information-
> Retrieval (IR) system.  Such a system is distinguished from traditional
> search engines in the general case in that nobody has ever successfully
> built one that, in the general case, works.
> 
> (putting on my asbestos underwear) -Tim

And once someone perfects the Information Retrieval system, wouldn't we 
then need an Information Dispersal system. And perhaps a Ministry of 
Information to manage it all.

Wink,
Sam Lowery

-----------------------------------------
Michael S. Brothers
515-362-7473
"You can't handle the truth. Nooo truth
handler you! I deride your truth handling
abilities."
- Sideshow Bob


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    • From: Tim Bray <tbray@t...>

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