Clusty
Encyclopedia
Clusty was a metasearch engine
developed by Vivísimo
which offered clusters
of results. It is now known as Yippy. Vivísimo is a company built on Web search technology developed by Carnegie Mellon University
researchers, much like Lycos
was a decade earlier. Clusty added new features and a new interface to the previous Vivisimo clustering web metasearch. Different tabs also offer metasearches for news, jobs (in partnership with Indeed.com), U.S. government info and blogs. Customized tabs allow users to select sources for their own metasearch to create personalized tabs.
Clusty had free toolbars for Internet Explorer
and Mozilla Firefox
, as well as a Mycroft Project
search plugin for Mozilla and Firefox.
On May 14, 2010, Clusty was acquired by Yippy, Inc., an Internet startup based in Fort Myers, Florida
. By April 2011, Alexa.com was reporting that "while approximately 30% of visitors to the site come from the US, where it is ranked #11,500, it is also popular in Ireland, where it is ranked #2,002." Alexa also reports that the audience for Yippy.com was overrepresented by male cohorts over 45 years old and that it was underrepresented by youth.
of Folders. The aim of this search engine technique is to organize numerous search results into several meaningful categories (clusters).
The user benefits include:
s" returns the clusters:
Many of these clusters can be opened, as "Delicious" has been in the example, for further refinement.
Similar to Google, Cluster/Yippy have "labs" to develop and test new applications. One is the Wii interface in which Vivísimo developed a Wii
-friendly version of their Clusty search engine. The main differences are:
As of 2010 May 27 Free Tibet Campaign
search which was an example for the created tabs was no longer listed. On October 28, 2011, the Free Tibet Campaign was listed at the top of results for "Free Tibet Campaign. Rationalrevolution.net, however, was still listed. At least one site announced it was abandoning the use of Clusty as a result of censorshop.
As of 2010 August 24, a search for "atheism" returned a list of Christian apologetics sites (compare Google). As of 28 October 2011 this list included apologetics pages but also reference pages about the nature of atheism and also atheism.org. A search for alcohol returned a list of alcoholics anonymous sites (again compare Google).
While the main search page is not completely straightforward about the political orientation of the search engine, the site's terms and conditions and mission statement are unambiguous:
and
Metasearch engine
A metasearch engine is a search tool that sends user requests to several other search engines and/or databases and aggregates the results into a single list or displays them according to their source. Metasearch engines enable users to enter search criteria once and access several search engines...
developed by Vivísimo
Vivísimo
Vivisimo is a privately held enterprise search software company in Pittsburgh that develops and sells software products to improve search on the web and in enterprises...
which offered clusters
Data clustering
Cluster analysis or clustering is the task of assigning a set of objects into groups so that the objects in the same cluster are more similar to each other than to those in other clusters....
of results. It is now known as Yippy. Vivísimo is a company built on Web search technology developed by Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
researchers, much like Lycos
Lycos
Lycos, Inc. is a search engine and web portal established in 1994. Lycos also encompasses a network of email, webhosting, social networking, and entertainment websites.-Corporate history:...
was a decade earlier. Clusty added new features and a new interface to the previous Vivisimo clustering web metasearch. Different tabs also offer metasearches for news, jobs (in partnership with Indeed.com), U.S. government info and blogs. Customized tabs allow users to select sources for their own metasearch to create personalized tabs.
Clusty had free toolbars for Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
and Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser descended from the Mozilla Application Suite and managed by Mozilla Corporation. , Firefox is the second most widely used browser, with approximately 25% of worldwide usage share of web browsers...
, as well as a Mycroft Project
Mycroft project
The Mycroft project provides a collection of search plugins for Mozilla-based web browsers. The open source project is hosted on Mozdev.org and has been in existence since 2000...
search plugin for Mozilla and Firefox.
On May 14, 2010, Clusty was acquired by Yippy, Inc., an Internet startup based in Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
. By April 2011, Alexa.com was reporting that "while approximately 30% of visitors to the site come from the US, where it is ranked #11,500, it is also popular in Ireland, where it is ranked #2,002." Alexa also reports that the audience for Yippy.com was overrepresented by male cohorts over 45 years old and that it was underrepresented by youth.
Clustering
A cluster is a group of similar topics that are related to the original query. The clusters are presented to the user through the Desktop metaphorDesktop metaphor
The desktop metaphor is an interface metaphor which is a set of unifying concepts used by graphical user interfaces to help users more easily interact with the computer. The desktop metaphor treats the monitor of a computer as if it is the user's desktop, upon which objects such as documents and...
of Folders. The aim of this search engine technique is to organize numerous search results into several meaningful categories (clusters).
The user benefits include:
- Get an overview of the available themes or topics.
- Via one or two clicks on a folder and subfolders, arrive at interesting search results that may be too far down in the ranking.
- View similar results together in folders rather than scattered throughout a list.
Search example
A search on Clusty for "ApricotApricot
The apricot, Prunus armeniaca, is a species of Prunus, classified with the plum in the subgenus Prunus. The native range is somewhat uncertain due to its extensive prehistoric cultivation.- Description :...
s" returns the clusters:
- Dried (67)
- Delicious (13)
- Glazed (3)
- Sweet, Juicy (3)
- Fresh (4)
- Kitchen (3)
- Other Topics (2)
- Orange (9)
- Turkey, Export (11)
- Chocolate, Dipped (12)
- Fresh apricots (11)
- Peaches, Nectarines (11)
- Salad (7)
- Apricots Know (7)
- Chicken (7)
Many of these clusters can be opened, as "Delicious" has been in the example, for further refinement.
Wii interface
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
-friendly version of their Clusty search engine. The main differences are:
- The whole search engine is themedTheme (computing)In computing, a theme is a preset package containing graphical appearance details, used to customize the look and feel of an operating system, widget set or window manager....
to integrate better with the Wii's menus. - The first page only offers the basic company links and the search query box.
- The clusters don't expand and also change their theme when the cursorCursor (computers)In computing, a cursor is an indicator used to show the position on a computer monitor or other display device that will respond to input from a text input or pointing device. The flashing text cursor may be referred to as a caret in some cases...
is over each cluster. - Each link is boxed for easier visual recognisation when the cursor is over each one.
- The fonts are sized for easier reading on a televisionTelevisionTelevision is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
.
Censorship
Before the acquisition Clusty had a very anti-censorship policy, clearly stating that it will remove no results from its search (with a loophole allowing for censorship by the "democratic" regimes). After the acquisition the censorship policy has been rewritten to state:Yippy may remove from its output, in an ad-hoc manner, all but not limited to the following:
- Politically-oriented propaganda or agendas
- Pornographic Material
- Gambling content
- Sexual products or sites that sell same
- Anti-Semitic views or opinions
- Anti-Christian views or opinions
- Anti-Conservative views or opinions
- Anti-Sovereign USA views or opinions
- Sites deemed inappropriate for children
YIPPY RESERVES THE RIGHT – that any site or domain that displays, does business with or derives revenue from any of the above may be blocked without notice by Yippy, Inc. [...] Yippy reserves the right to redirect its users to approved sites.
As of 2010 May 27 Free Tibet Campaign
Free Tibet Campaign
Free Tibet or Free Tibet Campaign is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, founded in 1987 and based in London, England. It stands for the rights of Tibetans to determine their own future and campaigns for "an end to the Chinese occupation of Tibet and for the fundamental human rights of...
search which was an example for the created tabs was no longer listed. On October 28, 2011, the Free Tibet Campaign was listed at the top of results for "Free Tibet Campaign. Rationalrevolution.net, however, was still listed. At least one site announced it was abandoning the use of Clusty as a result of censorshop.
As of 2010 August 24, a search for "atheism" returned a list of Christian apologetics sites (compare Google). As of 28 October 2011 this list included apologetics pages but also reference pages about the nature of atheism and also atheism.org. A search for alcohol returned a list of alcoholics anonymous sites (again compare Google).
While the main search page is not completely straightforward about the political orientation of the search engine, the site's terms and conditions and mission statement are unambiguous:
Our goal is to include only content that is appropriate for all ages. We have blocked nearly 4.8 million undesirable sites, and done our best to remove content containing material which we feel does not fit this criteria.
and
Oh, we should say that we are a very far-out group of people. Everyone is a certified genius here and we work together for our goals for the love of it all. Good vs. Don't be Evil ... We are too smart to sell out to Porn, Gambling and other things that infect our society for profit. Good always wins, and conservative values will bring us our victory in the market place. God controls all creative thought, it's what you do with it that defines who you are. Are you Good or Evil ?This statement appears to have been removed by 28 October 2011.