Search results

To investigate how search engine users manipulate the rankings of search results. Search engines employ different ranking methods in order to display the “best” results first. One of the ranking methods is PageRank, where the number of links pointing to the page influences its rank. The “anchor text,” the clickable text of the hypertext link is another “ingredient” in the ranking method. There are a number of cases where the public challenged the Google's ranking, by creating a so‐called “Google bomb” – creating links to pages they wanted to be highly ranked for given query. Google is chosen as the search engine, because it is currently by far the most popular search engine.

PageRank, one of the major parameters of Google's ranking algorithm is described, and the author explains how this algorithm is exploited by communities of users to promote a certain web page for a specific query. This process is called “Google bombing.” Recent reaction of Google to this phenomenon is also described.

Specific examples of “accomplished Google bombs” show that the public is able to manipulate search results.

Google, instead of being an unobtrusive information retrieval tool has become highly influential in the web scenery. Some users pay for search engine optimization, while others utilize the power of the crowd to influence Google's rankings. This paper supports the claims of Introna and Nissenbaum regarding the power of search engines.

The story of how aviation has opened up the African continent promises to be a formidable subject and initial inspection of such chapter headings as “The Nile hydro‐aeroplane” and “The link to West Africa” hardly relieves the impression. But David Jones, an experienced broadcaster, appreciates how easily readers, like listeners, switch off. So he recounts the story almost entirely as achievements by personalities. Those flying that Nile hydro‐aeroplane were Francis McClean and party and the link to West Africa was forged by Coningham and Rowley. Only the last section concentrates on the comparative impersonality of the airlines.

In this paper, we explore the technical challenges to automatically generate computer‐aided design models of existing vehicle parts using laser range imaging techniques. We propose a complete system that integrates data acquisition and model reconstruction. We discuss methods to resolve the occlusion problem and the associated registration problem. We also present our reconstruction algorithm. This range image‐based, computer‐aided reverse engineering system has a potential for faster model reconstruction over traditional reverse engineering technologies. Finally, we present results derived from the system.

It's been three years since my previous survey in RSR. Superb reference books in pop music have been appearing so frequently that I've been having trouble keeping up. Let's hope “next year's” survey will only be 12 months in the making and not 36.

This special “Anbar Abstracts” issue of the Marketing Intelligence & Planning is split into seven sections covering abstracts under the following headings: Marketing Strategy; Customer Service; Sales Management; Promotion; Marketing Research/Customer Behaviour; Product Management; Logistics and Distribution and Sundry.

The Internet is a multi‐channel distributor of data, information and knowledge. Information has value. It is becoming a separate entity to people and artefacts and is taking on the mantle of a commodity. Information affects the value chain and, in the network of networks known as the Internet, information management is an important corporate function. The value of information will decline as the volume of it increases, and it will gain added advantage when endorsed by trusted channels. Without valued information, the value of products is low to non‐existent. Ethics in the provision, management and protection of information is now an important, if not pivotal, management function.

The Financial Services Authority’s (FSA) proposals to revise best execution obligations will involve an extensive departure from existing practices. In particular, achieving the ‘best price’ will no longer be paramount. Firms will have to factor into the best execution equation other direct and indirect costs of trading which are relevant to achieving ‘the best outcome’ or ‘quality of execution’ for the consumer. This will make the assessment far more complex. The existing timely execution rule, making immediacy of execution the benchmark, is likely to be scrapped, to be replaced by an obligation to deal at a time best calculated to deliver the desired result for the customer. The existing SETS ‘safe harbour’ may also be removed and there will be extensive new customer disclosure obligations in relation to firms’ execution policies and procedures, including information as to deal flow through potential individual execution venues, and execution specific disclosures of conflicts of interest. Firms will also be obliged to review at least annually their execution arrangements and make changes if in the interests of their customers, and the FSA proposes rigorous transaction monitoring obligations to ensure that the revised best execution requirements are being met in practice.

This special “Anbar Abstracts” issue of the European Journal of Marketing is split into seven sections covering abstracts under the following headings: Marketing, Europe and international business; Marketing strategy; Supply‐chain management; Product management; Services marketing; Marketing in the public sector; and Marketing and information technology.

This special “Anbar Abstracts” issue of the International Marketing Review is split into six sections covering abstracts under the following headings: Marketing Strategy; Customer Service; Promotion; Product Management; Marketing Research/Customer Behaviour/Public Relations; Pricing/Sales Management/Sales Force.