The New York Times reports that Microsoft is developing tools for Vista that will “change the way computers use search.” One such tool, Web Assistant, will improve search relevance by showing results for multiple varieties of ambiguous words (sites for both ‘reggie bush’ and ‘george bush’, for example, might be shown for a search on ‘bush’). One Web Assistant designer told the New York Times, “This is a prototype of a browser that aims to change the way we interact with information.”
The new browser would theoretically be designed to favor the use of other Microsoft search developments – a search “scrapbooking” tool called Mix, Personalized Search for Live.com (that includes Desktop Search in personalized results), and future tools that “exploit clues about the context of a search.” These and other Microsoft innovations were unveiled at Microsoft Research’s annual Techfest.
In the meantime, Microsoft’s current browser, IE7, appears to be on the decline. According to Net Applications, IE7 has been slowly losing market share to Firefox and Safari. Last Friday, the Department of Transportation issued a moratorium on all Microsoft products, and today the FAA announced that it may do the same.
Is this the beginning of the end for IE7? With nearly 80% browser market share, its difficult to imagine that Internet Explorer might be phased out for a more inter-operable browser. But, as Susan Dumais, a Microsoft search expert, told the New York Times, “Search in the future will look nothing like today’s simple search engine interfaces…If in 10 years we are still using a rectangular box and a list of results, I should be fired.”
sites for both ‘reggie bush’ and ‘george bush’, for example, might be shown for a search on ‘bush’
(end quote).
Sounds like what I’m missing from Google for years… Somehow the “~” never catched really on in the google search systems…
But I bet ya Google will implement this too, but with finer basic control – in what probably will be in contrast to the “user friendly but limited though good performing” microsoft solution.
Also, do not rule out google personalised search… Been using it from the beginning (2004?), and it proves handy for me, once in a while…
And don’t forget the ask.com boys – their search algorithms can give suprising good results too… Certainly worth a visit if google is missing your part of the web
Peace!
Conare etc. (c.) – 1995-007
I disagree with Susan Dumais. Search is not about user interface. Search is about the behind the scene technologies that could understand what people are looking for.
In this regard, the one box approach such as Google has done, is very effective. It is simple, but, underlying technology is the world’s most sophisticated tech.
This is something Microsoft should learn. Otherwise, I could see it is on a decline path to obsolate to this era of Internet innovation.
Microsoft has a track record of copy cat other companies innovation, but, in terms of coming up with their own original ideas, it is not practical a LOT of times.
Bottom line is, they should really focus on search algorithms, rather than a pretty face, like what they did for windows vista.
Jian
http://www.hongandjian.com