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NEW USER INTERFACE BROADENS APPEAL OF ALTAVISTA SEARCH SERVICE ...Customization tools and search focus enhancement bring power searching to new users...
The enhanced AltaVista Search service user interface includes simple customization tools, rewritten help pages and a new "refine" function that organizes results into simple, clear topic categories. In addition, a new point-and-click map quickly takes the user to one of the global AltaVista Search network sites or to additional partner Web sites powered by AltaVista.
"The AltaVista Search service is unique in the crowded search engine market," said Louis Monier, Digital's chief technology officer for AltaVista. "We provide 18 million keyword searches each day -- nearly three times as many as our nearest competitor. Experienced users and non-power users alike know they can count on AltaVista Search to quickly find what they are looking for on the Web."
According to Kathey Hale, Principal Analyst for Dataquest, "The new look emphasizes AltaVista's strong points: leadership in worldwide reach and a tight focus on serving people who are actively searching the Web."
Dynamic Categorization
For example, a searcher looking for information on "spider webs" and typing in the words "spider" and "web" will not only get results related to the natural phenomenon but information related to the World Wide Web and "spidering" technology. By clicking on the refine button, the user can narrow the results by performing another search that includes or excludes a specified list of topics or categories.
Global Network Jump Page and Multilingual Search
Advertising Sponsorship Button
The AltaVista Search service is one of the most popular sites on the World Wide Web and has won numerous awards worldwide, including the PC World 1997 World Class Award - PC World, June 1997; 1997 Intranet Excellence - Intranet Magazine, May 1997; Best Search Service - Internet World, Jan. 1997; and Product of the Year - EUROLUG (European Online Users Group), Feb. 1997.
Digital Equipment Corporation is a world leader in open client/server solutions from personal computing to integrated worldwide information systems. Digital's scalable Alpha and X86 platforms, storage, networking, software and services, together with industry-focused solutions from business partners, help organizations compete and win in today's global marketplace.
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CORP/98/724
Note to Editors: Digital, the Digital logo and AltaVista are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their respective companies.
Contacts:
Krys Monaco or Christina Lynch   
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MAYNARD, Mass., July 22, 1997 - Digital Equipment Corporation today unveiled a preview of a dynamic new user interface for the AltaVista Search service that will bring its powerful search capabilities into the hands of non-power searchers. The new interface design will make it easier for beginning or casual Web users to quickly find what they're looking for on the Internet, yet will still provide the highly advanced search technology that power users require. Users can access the new user interface through a 'preview' button on the AltaVista Search site (http://altavista.digital.com) beginning today. The full implementation will be available on Saturday, July 26.
