All test questions completed in the search engines on April 14-16, 1997. [RIGHT click to download the results spreadsheet engines.xls.] Review 1996 test results.

SUMMARY OF 1997 RESULTS Cumulative Relative Times Average Average Search Ordinal Absolute Ranked Relevancy Relative Engine Ranking Ranking in Top 3 1st 25 Recall AltaVista 146 93 15 61.9 9.1 Excite! 128 87 10 62.7 24.0 HotBot 147 92 15 67.0 27.8 Infoseek 147 100 17 65.9 8.5 Lycos 74 47 4 32.8 5.1 Open Text 71 47 5 30.1 1.0 WebCrawler 78 46 2 35.4 12.2 Yahoo! 96 49 10 33.6 12.3

QUESTION: Abelard and Heloise Letters Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 50 3 1 15 405 22.13 6 Excite! 128 3 1 16 432 23.61 7 HotBot 216 3 1 16 432 23.61 8 Infoseek 1236 2 5 12 120 6.56 3 Lycos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Open Text 5 3 1 3 81 4.43 2 WebCrawler 6 3 1 6 162 8.85 4 Yahoo! 6380 2 1 11 198 10.82 5 Where: Hit Rankings = Absolute Ranking = 3 - 1 to 1,000 hits Hit Ranking X (10 - To First Hit) X Hits/First 25 2 - 1,001 to 10,000 hits 1 - > 10,000 hits 0 - no hits QUESTION: Amboog-A-Lard Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 11 3 1 10 270 11.24 5 Excite! 28 3 1 25 675 28.09 8 HotBot 23 3 1 23 621 25.84 7 Infoseek 19 3 1 19 513 21.35 6 Lycos 3 3 1 3 81 3.37 3 Open Text 4 3 1 4 108 4.49 4 WebCrawler 3 3 1 3 81 3.37 3 Yahoo! 2 3 1 2 54 2.25 1 QUESTION: Ambreine Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 1 3 1 1 27 16.67 7 Excite! 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 HotBot 1 3 1 1 27 16.67 7 Infoseek 1 3 1 1 27 16.67 7 Lycos 2 3 1 2 54 33.33 8 Open Text 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 WebCrawler 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Yahoo! 1 3 1 1 27 16.67 7 QUESTION: Baroncelli Chapel Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 4 3 1 4 108 15.45 6 Excite! 12 3 1 8 216 30.90 8 HotBot 21 3 3 5 105 15.02 5 Infoseek 4 3 1 3 81 11.59 4 Lycos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Open Text 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 WebCrawler 3 3 1 2 54 7.73 3 Yahoo! 8 3 1 5 135 19.31 7 QUESTION: Black 47 Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 4433 2 2 12 192 12.28 6 Excite! 592 3 1 11 297 19 7 HotBot 169350 1 1 15 135 8.64 4 Infoseek 484 3 1 25 675 43.19 8 Lycos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Open Text 154 3 1 6 162 10.36 5 WebCrawler 88769 1 1 6 54 3.45 3 Yahoo! 2 3 2 2 48 3.07 2 QUESTION: Book of Kells Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 1012 2 1 18 324 10.70 3 Excite! 1260 2 1 21 378 12.49 4 HotBot 1996 2 2 12 192 6.34 2 Infoseek 135 3 1 23 621 20.52 8 Lycos 28 3 1 16 432 14.27 6 Open Text 110 3 1 18 486 16.06 7 WebCrawler 126 3 1 15 405 13.38 5 Yahoo! 7 3 1 7 189 6.24 1 QUESTION: Chateau de Villandry Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 30 3 1 21 567 16.76 4 Excite! 35 3 1 21 567 16.76 5 HotBot 43 3 1 23 621 18.35 7 Infoseek 25 3 1 24 648 19.15 8 Lycos 5 3 1 5 135 3.99 2 Open Text 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 WebCrawler 1611 2 1 14 252 7.45 3 Yahoo! 58 3 1 22 594 17.55 6 QUESTION: Criminal Behavior Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 4185 2 1 18 324 16.67 5 Excite! 1250 2 1 19 342 17.59 6 HotBot 42892 1 1 22 198 10.19 4 Infoseek 2456 2 1 20 360 18.52 8 Lycos 58381 1 2 21 168 8.64 3 Open Text 345 3 1 13 351 18.06 7 WebCrawler 26401 1 1 17 153 7.87 2 Yahoo! 2 3 2 2 48 2.47 1 QUESTION: Fitzwilliam Virginal Book Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 51 3 1 20 540 26.59 7 Excite! 82 3 2 10 240 11.82 5 HotBot 84 3 1 20 540 26.59 8 Infoseek 41 3 1 11 297 14.62 6 Lycos 11 3 2 5 120 5.91 2 Open Text 2 3 2 1 24 1.18 1 WebCrawler 265 3 1 5 135 6.65 4 Yahoo! 20 3 1 5 135 6.65 3 QUESTION: Francis Pilkington Madrigals Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 10 3 1 10 270 16.95 5 Excite! 303 3 1 6 162 10.17 4 HotBot 19 3 1 19 513 32.20 8 Infoseek 45 3 1 10 270 16.95 6 Lycos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Open Text 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 WebCrawler 2 3 1 2 54 3.39 3 Yahoo! 12 3 1 12 324 20.34 7 QUESTION: Kykuit Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 140 3 1 25 675 17.36 8 Excite! 96 3 1 17 459 11.81 3 HotBot 150 3 1 24 648 16.67 7 Infoseek 61 3 1 18 486 12.50 4 Lycos 26 3 1 20 540 13.89 5 Open Text 22 3 1 15 405 10.42 2 WebCrawler 7 3 1 4 108 2.78 1 Yahoo! 140 3 1 21 567 14.58 6 QUESTION: Long Haymes Carr Lintas Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 5 3 1 5 135 12.82 4 Excite! 6 3 1 6 162 15.38 6 HotBot 12 3 1 10 270 25.64 8 Infoseek 2 3 1 2 54 5.13 3 Lycos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Open Text 1 3 1 1 27 2.56 2 WebCrawler 6 3 1 6 162 15.38 6 Yahoo! 9 3 1 9 243 23.08 7 QUESTION: Mansoor Amarna Collection Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 164 3 1 17 459 12.67 3 Excite! 160 3 1 21 567 15.65 5 HotBot 236 3 1 22 594 16.39 6 Infoseek 136 3 1 23 621 17.14 8 Lycos 56 3 2 25 600 16.56 7 Open Text 10 3 1 10 270 7.45 2 WebCrawler 126 3 1 18 486 13.41 4 Yahoo! 1 3 1 1 27 0.75 1 QUESTION: Melungeon Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 39 3 1 19 513 15.32 4 Excite! 74 3 1 19 513 15.32 5 HotBot 131 3 1 25 675 20.16 8 Infoseek 57 3 1 22 594 17.74 7 Lycos 32 3 1 22 594 17.74 6 Open Text 10 3 1 8 216 6.45 3 WebCrawler 8 3 1 8 216 6.45 2 Yahoo! 1 3 1 1 27 0.81 1 QUESTION: Muir Woods Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 681 3 1 25 675 18.61 8 Excite! 740 3 1 24 648 17.87 7 HotBot 1106 2 1 20 360 9.93 3 Infoseek 595 3 1 23 621 17.12 6 Lycos 129 3 1 18 486 13.40 5 Open Text 87 3 1 18 486 13.40 5 WebCrawler 81 3 1 11 297 8.19 2 Yahoo! 2 3 1 2 54 1.49 1 QUESTION: Neuschwanstein Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 698 3 1 25 675 15.71 6 Excite! 635 3 1 20 540 12.57 5 HotBot 961 3 1 25 675 15.71 8 Infoseek 493 3 1 21 567 13.20 2 Lycos 261 3 2 17 408 9.50 3 Open Text 93 3 1 17 459 10.68 4 WebCrawler 50 3 1 11 297 6.91 1 Yahoo! 698 3 1 25 675 15.71 7 QUESTION: Okidata OL840 Printer Driver Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 17 3 1 9 243 26.56 7 Excite! 354250 1 1 12 108 11.80 5 HotBot 57 3 1 11 297 32.46 8 Infoseek 14 3 1 7 189 20.66 6 Lycos 3 3 1 2 54 5.90 4 Open Text 2 3 2 1 24 2.62 3 WebCrawler 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Yahoo! 29 3 0 0 0 0 0 QUESTION: Olympic Park Bomber Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 21 3 1 21 567 18.42 6 Excite! 566 3 1 25 675 21.93 8 HotBot 709 3 1 23 621 20.18 7 Infoseek 46 3 1 20 540 17.54 5 Lycos 2 3 1 2 54 1.75 2 Open Text 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 WebCrawler 20 3 1 18 486 15.79 4 Yahoo! 5 3 1 5 135 4.39 3 QUESTION: Omega 3 Fatty Acids Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 465 3 1 25 675 26.64 8 Excite! 296318 1 2 22 176 6.95 3 HotBot 2087 2 1 22 396 15.63 5 Infoseek 105 3 1 24 648 25.57 7 Lycos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Open Text 51 3 1 15 405 15.98 6 WebCrawler 403424 1 1 23 207 8.17 4 Yahoo! 1 3 1 1 27 1.07 2 QUESTION: Paphiopedilum callosum Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 13 3 1 12 324 11.00 4 Excite! 42 3 1 25 675 22.91 7 HotBot 44 3 1 25 675 22.91 8 Infoseek 21 3 1 21 567 19.25 5 Lycos 8 3 1 2 54 1.83 2 Open Text 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 WebCrawler 3 3 1 3 81 2.75 3 Yahoo! 22 3 0 19 570 19.35 6 QUESTION: Percheron Breed History Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 16 3 1 14 378 21.18 8 Excite! 182 3 2 14 336 18.82 6 HotBot 218 3 2 9 216 12.10 4 Infoseek 81 3 1 13 351 19.66 7 Lycos 29 3 2 10 240 13.45 5 Open Text 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 WebCrawler 15 3 3 4 84 4.71 2 Yahoo! 146 3 5 12 180 10.08 3 QUESTION: Peyronie's Disease Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 266 3 1 20 540 15.87 7 Excite! 224 3 1 19 513 15.08 5 HotBot 374 3 1 20 540 15.87 6 Infoseek 143 3 1 24 648 19.05 8 Lycos 49 3 1 19 513 15.08 4 Open Text 24 3 1 13 351 10.32 3 WebCrawler 12 3 1 10 270 7.94 2 Yahoo! 1 3 1 1 27 0.79 1 QUESTION: R Crumb Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 690 3 1 21 567 23.87 8 Excite! 8702 2 1 12 216 9.09 4 HotBot 9694 2 2 5 80 3.37 2 Infoseek 489 3 1 21 567 23.87 7 Lycos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Open Text 63 3 1 17 459 19.33 6 WebCrawler 151 3 1 12 324 13.64 5 QUESTION: Randell Jarrell Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 238 3 1 12 324 14.27 7 Excite! 221 3 3 12 252 11.10 3 HotBot 908 3 1 11 297 13.08 4 Infoseek 176 3 1 9 243 10.70 2 Lycos 52 3 0 10 300 13.21 5 Open Text 12 3 1 7 189 8.32 1 WebCrawler 22 3 1 12 324 14.27 6 Yahoo! 6580 2 1 19 342 15.06 8 QUESTION: Tom Metzger Search Total Hit To First Hits/ Absolute % Ordinal Engine Hits Ranking Hit First 25 Ranking Ranking Ranking AltaVista 341 3 1 8 216 8.39 4 Excite! 670 3 1 7 189 7.34 2 HotBot 3636 2 1 11 198 7.69 3 Infoseek 239 3 1 16 432 16.78 6 Lycos 12 3 1 6 162 6.29 1 Open Text 25 3 1 21 567 22.03 8 WebCrawler 109 3 1 11 297 11.54 5 Yahoo! 216 3 1 19 513 19.93 7

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