This week I browsed through All-in-One Search Page. It is an excellent search page which provides a compilation of various form-based search tools found on the Internet (e.g. Internet Sleuth, World Wide Web, Excite USENET Search, Veronica, etc.), and which have been combined to form a consistent interface and convenient All-in-One search point.

I was interested in exploring some Internet conferences and chose a link from the All-in-One Search Page to the World Wide Events Database which searches for a variety of real world events announcements. This search tool gives you the opportunity to query announcements of events by topics such as agriculture (farm events, shows, fairs, etc.), art and festivals, conferences, crafts, hobbies (pet and hobby shows), recreation events, sports, etc.

I picked the link to Conferences which in itself is a search engine for conference events. This tool lets you search events by type (e.g. business, education, government, medical, political, technical, etc.), event name, sponsoring organization, city, state, province, country (includes 221 countries), and particular date. The fewer the constraints you enter, the more references you get. Since I was already on a search for conference events, I entered only "Internet" as my query and in order to maximize its search results I didn't add any constrictions to it.

I received only one hit to my query and it was an announcement concerning the Internet Law Symposium 95 (ILS 95) that took place on October 30 & 31 in Seattle. I clicked on the Display button and it led me to a document about it. The ILS 95 is basically designed to present to participants and the Internet community a discussion and formulation of the law as it applies within the universe of digital communications. The ILS 95 gathers experts who examine the pervasive impact of the Internet on law and society. Hence, it provides access to the practice of law relating to a hypertext environment where an increasing number of legal issues and questions arise among the many users who interact electronically in some measure. The document also includes the ILS 95's location, schedule of events (for example, featuring George Gilder the author of Life After Television, Microcosm, Telecosm), and contact person.

I found it necessary to establish laws and regulations applying to the Internet environment. It is a form of communication and like any other needs to be censored, protected and secured from unscrupulous people (e.g. computer Hackers).

I did the same query on DejaNews search engine. DejaNews found 868506 hits relating to Internet conferences (déjà-vu!). Yet, it does give the option to search up to 30 results at a time. Basically, DejaNews compiles chat groups or news-groups who announce and report on various conferences that are taking place, and includes groups who relate somehow to various conferences on the Internet. For example, there is a report on the National Institute of Health (NIH) conference, a question on the World Wide Conference on packet radio via the Internet, a college football conference, a news conference, etc. When clicking to view any of the links to these conferences, you will see an e-mail style document with the organization, news group and the URL address of the individuals who wrote about it and belong to it. I also found the ILS 95 Home Page and more information refering to its conference.

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