If you've surfed lately, you may have already seen the term "Smart Browsing." Netscape, who recently released a Smart Browse-enabled version of its Navigator browser (V 4.50), describes the technology as "merging the power and connectivity of the Internet with the browser." Sounds nifty enough, but what does that really mean?

Smart Browsing means easier surfing, which is its most important feature. Netscape integrates its browser with the newly-renovated Netcenter online service that is similar to other portals like Yahoo, Snap and Excite. This integration allows Netscape to capitalize on organized information and services. In addition to more organized information, surfers can use common words to find what they want. Netcenter accesses its keyword database behind the scenes to search for a site that matches the common words entered. This allows you to avoid entering complicated URLs like "http://www.stc.org/region6/stl/index.html" to access the STC St. Louis web site. With Smart Browsing, you can access the site by entering plain English like "St. Louis STC."

This Smart Browsing feature has raised a number of questions about Domain Names and their value. Example: Is it as important that Gateway computers be at Gateway.com now that you can type "Gateway Computers" into Netscape's location box and browse right to the site? No. Or in another example, say your company is named DCS (Digital Consulting Services) but when you create your company web site, dcs.com is already taken by another firm (say… Duck Construction Systems?). You’ve lost a major battle in your marketing strategy, right? Not necessarily. With Smart Browse technology, you can register for the dcs.com domain name, and make sure your site is in the keyword database as Digital Consulting Services. People will find your site by typing "Digital Consulting Services".

Netscape has not yet stated how web designers will be able to update their keywords. But ultimately, we think that this capability will bring a whole new class of web user to the net. Smart browsing represents a major improvement in world wide web usability.

And, there's more. Other major features of the new Netscape browser include:

• Related sites at the click of a mouse. Visit any web site and click the "What's Related" drop-down list. You'll see a list of recommendations for other sites with similar information. Look for this feature to become more useful as the Alexa What’s Related database grows.
• Built-in filtering. The new NetWatch function automatically screens sites according to Netscape-assigned content ratings.

However, this upgrade comes with a price: while the browser is now totally free (even with the “professional” features such as calendaring and PDA synching), it does require some horsepower. Netscape Communicator 4.5 is designed to run on a Pentium class machine, and is best experienced on 133 Mhz machine or higher. There is no version of Netscape 4.5 for Windows 3.1 users, and there will not be one. The last of the 4.0x versions of Netscape (4.07) does contain the Smart Browse technology, but lacks some of the other updates found in the 4.5 version of Communicator.

Although it recently released the beta copy of Internet Explorer (IE) 5.0, Microsoft remains curiously quiet about this latest salvo in the browser war. Meanwhile, in a full frontal assault, Netscape has released its TuneUp for IE. This free ActiveX control allows users to add "Netscape Smart Browse functionality" to IE 4 and 5. TuneUp enables IE surfers to access Netcenter's keyword and index database, and smart browse the "Netscape way." While this move will surely have some positive results for Netscape (more visitors to Netcenter, improved visibility with IE users), it'll take more than success in this battle to win the war.

But don't write off MS…in future versions of IE we wouldn't be surprised to see Smart Browsing, or something similar, that ties into the upcoming Microsoft Network Portal Site. Whatever the outcome, the ideas behind Smart Browsing indicate the potential for a new browser/Internet relationship. Smart Browse technology provides a long needed boost, and enables the web to become an integrated tool for retrieving relevant information. That bodes well for surfers, regardless of the implications in the browser war. With any luck, we may finally enjoy surfing something more analogous to a library, and reduce our rummaging through the net's disorganized "virtual book pile."

This story is reprinted with permission from NetNoggin.com. It is copyrighted by the authors, and submitted to the STC for use in Hyperviews:Online. Any republication of this article without the expressed written consent of the authors and NetNoggin.com is prohibited.

Mark Anderson is an Information Systems Consultant specializing in Online Documentation and Web Content Development for Sykes Enterprises Inc. He has over seven years professional experience developing a variety of print and electronic communication for audiences ranging from musicians to information systems professionals. He holds a B.S. degree in Mass Communications from Southeast Missouri State University.

Bill Bledsoe is a Web Development Consultant for DPRC, specializing in extranet and intranet design and development. Bill has a Bachelor of Journalism from the world-renowned School of Journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has been in the technical communication field as a technical writer, online help developer and now web developer for over 6 years.