-- ChunyingLi- 30 Jan 2007

Definition

Desktop search is the name for the field of search tools which search the contents of a user's own computer files, rather than searching the Internet. These tools are designed to find information on the user's PC, including web browser histories, e-mail archives, text documents, sound files, images and video.

Application

Google Desktop, which commonly used now, gives you easy access to information on your computer and from the web. Desktop search provides full text search over your email, files, music, photos, chats, e-mail, web pages that you've viewed. By making your computer searchable, Google Desktop puts your information easily within your reach and let you manually organize your files, emails and bookmarks. It makes searching your computer as easy as searching the web with Google.

Available for the different formats

When people search the documents, the filters will interpret selected file formats. So many different types of document can be available and searchable. For example, a Microsoft Office Filter might be used to search inside Microsoft Office documents.

The Advantage of the Desktop Search

People search the information in a few seconds, much faster than previous tools such as Windows XP's search companions.

The Disadvantage of the Desktop Search

However, desktop search is shared with more than one person. People can easily search for, find, and read private e-mail sent on the computer. So the privacy is required in the desktop search.

The Long-term goal

One of the long-term goals for desktop search is to be able to search the contents of image files, sound files and video.

JamieBrown - 01 Mar 2007

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