Googlefight
Encyclopedia
Googlefight is a website that allows users to compare the number of search results
returned by Google
for two given queries. The results are displayed graphically in a mixed Flash
and JavaScript
animation
. Two animated stick figure
s fight on screen after the queries are entered, and then an animated bar graph appears showing the results. The stick figure animation has no impact on the actual results. The results may be comforting, funny or self-referential.
People often use this for entertainment
by implying one subject is better than another, such as Microsoft vs. Google, with Google the winner. It can also be used as a measure of competitiveness; Salam Pax
posted a Googlefight result between himself and Raed Jarrar
on their blog in 2002, as their worldwide readership rose in the prelude to the 2003 invasion of Iraq
.
Googlefight has been highlighted as an example of a site making money from contextual advertising
, as well as one that derives its longevity from community participation (in this case, the always changing search terms).
Search engine
A search engine is an information retrieval system designed to help find information stored on a computer system. The search results are usually presented in a list and are commonly called hits. Search engines help to minimize the time required to find information and the amount of information...
returned by Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
for two given queries. The results are displayed graphically in a mixed Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
and JavaScript
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
animation
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
. Two animated stick figure
Stick figure
A stick figure is a very simple type of drawing made of lines and dots, often of the human form or other animals. In a stick figure, the head is represented by a circle, sometimes embellished with details such as eyes, mouth or crudely scratched-out hair. The arms, legs and torso are all...
s fight on screen after the queries are entered, and then an animated bar graph appears showing the results. The stick figure animation has no impact on the actual results. The results may be comforting, funny or self-referential.
People often use this for entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
by implying one subject is better than another, such as Microsoft vs. Google, with Google the winner. It can also be used as a measure of competitiveness; Salam Pax
Salam Pax
Salam Pax is the pseudonym of Salam Abdulmunem , aka Salam al-Janabi , under which he became the "most famous blogger in the world" during and after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Along with a massive readership, his site "Where is Raed?" received notable media attention. The pseudonym consists of the...
posted a Googlefight result between himself and Raed Jarrar
Raed Jarrar
Raed Jarrar is an Iraq-born architect, blogger, and political advocate resident in the U.S. Capital Washington, DC.Jarrar was born in Iraq, and raised in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. He is half Iraqi and half Palestinian...
on their blog in 2002, as their worldwide readership rose in the prelude to the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
.
Googlefight has been highlighted as an example of a site making money from contextual advertising
Contextual advertising
Contextual advertising is a form of targeted advertising for advertisements appearing on websites or other media, such as content displayed in mobile browsers...
, as well as one that derives its longevity from community participation (in this case, the always changing search terms).
External links
- Googlefight website
- Article about Googlefight at ETN Israel