Classic IR (information retrieval) is inherently predicated on users searching for information, the socalled "information need". But the need behind a web search is often not informational -- it might be navigational (give me the url of the site I want to reach) or transactional (show me sites where I can perform a certain transaction, e.g. shop, download a file, or find a map). We explore this taxonomy of web searches and discuss how global search engines evolved to deal with web-specific needs.

The rapid growth of the Internet as an environment for information exchange and the lack of enforceable standards regarding the information it contains has lead to numerous information qual ity problems. A major issue is the inability of Search Engine technology to wade through the vast expanse of questionable content and return "quality " results to a user's query. This paper attempts to address some of the issues involved in determining what quality is, as it pertains to information retrieval on the Internet. The IQIP model is presented as an approach to managing the choice and implementation of quality related algorithms of an Internet crawling Search Engine.

Introduction The study seeks to explore how e-learning is tackled by learners and thus investigate how hypermedia tools help to identify specific learner characteristics. Such characteristics can be detected by means of assessing the manner in which adult learners perform in a number of given e-learning tools. The di#erent navigating and learning strategies of individual learners will be observed. In this way a knowledge acquisition strategic pattern can be established. Unlike other traditional teaching and learning tools, where much of this information tends to be lost within the pedagogical process, e-learning can thus be seen under the light of its potential to acquire knowledge of every learner on an individual basis. Such an asset gives the possibility to collect information about the learner not only in the traditional manner of assessments, but also through: 1. through the way the users interacts with the e-learning tool facilities; 2. through the order in which the user nav

In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Postgraduate