1a) What are the four (4) main points Michael Rappa makes about search?
[What we see is just that when users are asked]
What we see is that people take a relatively rudimentary approach to search. They put a word, or a question, or a few words in the toolbar on a search engine, and hope for the best. They rarely know any of the specialized syntax, or logical expressions that could be used that would help narrow their search, and target it in such a way that they would more likely find more accurate results. We’re still just at a very early stage. And when we look at who uses the internet, and we understand that this is a kind of mainstream phenomenon.
[We collect information about their behaviour searching]
Databases are, in a sense, an approximation, a portion of the vast amount of digital information that’s out there. The collection mechanisms for search engines are not able to crawl and collect all of the information that’s out there, especially realizing the fact that the amount of information is growing quite fast each year. And also a fair amount of that information is in servers and databases, which although attached to the internet, are not accessible for search engines to basically cull, and collect, and store in their own databases.
Databases are, in a sense, an approximation, a portion of the vast amount of digital information that’s out there. The collection mechanisms for search engines are not able to crawl and collect all of the information that’s out there, especially realizing the fact that the amount of information is growing quite fast each year. And also a fair amount of that information is in servers and databases, which although attached to the internet, are not accessible for search engines to basically cull, and collect, and store in their own databases.
[We’re still at a stage in which most users are fairly inexperienced about how it is to go searching for information]
We need to appreciate the fact that searching for things, although most everyone does it – only a relatively small portion have a fairly good idea about how to get the best results, and also about how search engines actually work. Another thing that most people don’t understand is that when you search for something on the internet, wherever it is that you’re searching from – and you can search from many places to be sure – search boxes end up everywhere, including embedded in people’s browser applications – that when you search the internet, you’re in all likelihood searching one of a relatively small number of databases. That is that those places, wherever you search, are really tied into just a handful of databases, whether it’s the Google database, or the Yahoo’s Inktomi database, or one or two others. You’re basically searching this very small universe.
We need to appreciate the fact that searching for things, although most everyone does it – only a relatively small portion have a fairly good idea about how to get the best results, and also about how search engines actually work. Another thing that most people don’t understand is that when you search for something on the internet, wherever it is that you’re searching from – and you can search from many places to be sure – search boxes end up everywhere, including embedded in people’s browser applications – that when you search the internet, you’re in all likelihood searching one of a relatively small number of databases. That is that those places, wherever you search, are really tied into just a handful of databases, whether it’s the Google database, or the Yahoo’s Inktomi database, or one or two others. You’re basically searching this very small universe.
[What’s going on in the background with a particular search engine]
The fourth basic element of a search engine is what might be called the ranking algorithm for listing the results, that is once a user searches on a key word or phrase, a set of links are returned. Frequently those links may number literally in the millions. So the question becomes: how does one rank those results, setting aside what we talked about earlier – using paid placement. So that algorithm might be called some kind of usefulness metric that says, “Given the user has searched on this term or phrase, these are most likely the useful results that they’re looking for at the top.”
The fourth basic element of a search engine is what might be called the ranking algorithm for listing the results, that is once a user searches on a key word or phrase, a set of links are returned. Frequently those links may number literally in the millions. So the question becomes: how does one rank those results, setting aside what we talked about earlier – using paid placement. So that algorithm might be called some kind of usefulness metric that says, “Given the user has searched on this term or phrase, these are most likely the useful results that they’re looking for at the top.”
So to summarize then, a search engine is essentially four things. It’s a database. It’s a collection mechanism for adding data into that database. It’s a search protocol that enables users to query the database. And it’s a ranking algorithm that determines how the results are presented to the user. And when we look at the various search engines that are out there, they vary on one or more of these dimensions. This is what a search engine is all about.
1b) Watch or read the Marissa Mayer interview. Marissa says 'search is in its infancy'. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? What is your personal experience with search?
I do agree that search, despite the progress made so far, is still in early development. I believe there is much more information and comparisons we can make when searching for information and data in the future.
Take buying a car for instance. By searching the web I should not only be able to find the car I am looking for, but make comparisons and research to ensure I am choosing the right car for my needs. All the options should be clicks away, new versus used, unleaded versus diesel, two door versus four door, brand comparison and more. Also options to guesstimate the value of your car in ‘x’ amount of years. All these options would draw people to buying more cars online and only walking into the dealership to test drive and set up loans and finance. In turn, decreasing costs to car dealerships and increasing profits. You could also use the comparison search details to see what people are looking for in cars, what are the features they are really looking for and help target that type of product.
How we search, what we use to search, where we search, what we search and who will search can only grow each day. Technology improves, people’s needs and wants grow and our demands increase as our time decreases. Fast efficient information is the key to our future. Searching must improve and grow for our lifestyles and jobs to succeed and grow.
Retrieved from http://techcrunch.com/2009/03/06/marissa-mayer-on-charlie-rose-the-future-of-google/
2a) So what are the 6 webs?
We identified six webs. Those first four—here, near, far, and weird—are distinguished by their human interface. Then we said there are clearly two more that are essentially invisible: machine to machine and server to server. That is what became known as enterprise computing.
2b) Could there be more?With differently technologies being developed every day, and new communication methods being introduced to society I believe there could be more than 6 webs. I believe it is unrealistic to think that more webs would not be developed.
Development is the future of our society, and the demand for this is great.
Development is the future of our society, and the demand for this is great.
2c) What does it mean for business?It means more efficient, cost effective, and direct avenues to be in touch with the world. The more webs that are developed, the more access businesses give people to their goods and services.
Just like Dell, EBay, Google, Red Balloon, Facebook all successful online businesses that are used widely around the world. Just like these businesses and many others have done, development into the future is the key to success.
Just like Dell, EBay, Google, Red Balloon, Facebook all successful online businesses that are used widely around the world. Just like these businesses and many others have done, development into the future is the key to success.
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