4 ms·

"next big idea" is probably "selectable algorithms". Create 3-5 different search algorithms, with names and understandable characteristics, then let me choose

"next big idea" is probably "selectable algorithms". Create 3-5 different search algorithms, with names and understandable characteristics, then let me choose which one when searching. You may have some algorithm that prioritizes recency, or rapid changes, or more interaction, and others that prioritize longevity, citations/links, others that prioritize that type of information - prioritize regional or noteworthy events over historical info, etc. Have some algorithms that penalize spam/linkfarms more heavily than others. The git/so spam farms that come up when I search for an error message are simply useless, and would love ways to switch away and try other algorithms, without necessarily having to switch entire search systems. Have algorithms that explicitly take in to account the search/click behaviour of others. Let me choose to have the search behaviour of friends/colleagues/famous-folks explicitly included or excluded in search results ranking. Let people easily switch between multiple algorithms, and let 1000 gardens bloom (or something like that). Also, determining better ways to 'search' non-text stuff. If virtual worlds become a thing, finding ways to 'search' those (whatever that might mean) will be big. Image search still has a long way to go, IME.

antli35 5y ago
This could be a niche search engine for advanced users, but I feel that to average users this would be a strictly worse experience because they have no interest in figuring out how to "select an algorithm." They expect to type a query and the result they want comes up at the top. The search engine should be able to infer whether the user wants results that are more recent, more interactive, more authoritative, etc. based on the query, past search behavior, and anything else that is known about the user. If that isn't happening, the search engine needs to be made "smarter." The way it's likely seen by many tech companies is that the more decisions you have to offload to the user, the less advanced your system is. An old car with a lot of knobs and dials and levers is not more advanced than a self-driving car with a single control, select destination. Some people will still prefer the old car, but it will be a niche market.
- mgkimsal 5y ago
  3 big buttons at the top after search results "You're viewing through FOOBAR lens. Click here to view results from another lens". Doesn't have to be that complicated.
  - antli35 5y ago
    To some extent that's already implemented in the form of the various tabs - if you want very recent results, go to the News tab or click the Tools button and select a time range. If you want academic results with citations, go to Google Scholar. If you want information from books, go to the Books tab. If you don't know/care, the main tab will mix results from all tabs. You can add three more buttons on top of the tabs that are already there, but would their value for more advanced users be worth the extra friction/confusion for average users? And how would it scale if someone wants a fourth, fifth, or tenth "lens"?
- stingraycharles 5y ago
  I agree, it’s the classic example of “people don’t really like choice”. When you are presented with the option of a search algo, there’s always this feeling that you chose wrong. It’s an additional thing to think about, and makes things more complicated.
  - mgkimsal 5y ago
    it doesn't have to be an irreversible choice. clicking between 'filters' should be something that takes an instant, and is one click away.
imglorp 5y ago
> Image search still has a long way to go, IME. Try images.yandex.com: it's vastly better than most others. It's not too good at identifying specific people but it will find prior exact uses of an image (like TinEye) but is especially very good at abstracting what's the abstract subject, color, pose, setting etc in a photo and show you similar.
- fomine3 5y ago
  Also Bellingcat recommends Yandex: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2019/12/26/guide-to-using-reverse-image-search-for-investigations/ https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2019/12/26/guid...
Method-X 5y ago
This is what Brave Search calls “Goggles” [1]. [1] https://brave.com/static-assets/files/goggles.pdf https://brave.com/static-assets/files/goggles.pdf
mgkimsal 5y ago
EDIT: adding on to previous post. We now have a couple digital generations of folks who've grown up with 'web', and we've generated billions of 'documents'. TIME ACCURATE QUERIES need to be mainstream. "Let me search for FOOBAR and get results that would have been accurate/returned for Dec 11, 2006. Now search for FOOBAR and get results from Dec 11, 2014", etc.
zw123456 5y ago
I agree with you on this. I search for tech topics a lot and google offers an option to search "scholarly articles". I like that option as sometimes a tech term gets confused with something else. It would be great if there was a way to select from some check boxed, like an advanced search, "search only for semiconductor datasheets" or "search all Jazz music" or upload a picture and "identify an insect" (agree that does not work well yet) or whatever someone might be interested in. The question is if such an approach would lure a lot of people away, I could see an entry angle might be a front end to google with an app that does that.

antli35 5y ago

This could be a niche search engine for advanced users, but I feel that to average users this would be a strictly worse experience because they have no interest in figuring out how to "select an algorithm." They expect to type a query and the result they want comes up at the top. The search engine should be able to infer whether the user wants results that are more recent, more interactive, more authoritative, etc. based on the query, past search behavior, and anything else that is known about the user. If that isn't happening, the search engine needs to be made "smarter." The way it's likely seen by many tech companies is that the more decisions you have to offload to the user, the less advanced your system is. An old car with a lot of knobs and dials and levers is not more advanced than a self-driving car with a single control, select destination. Some people will still prefer the old car, but it will be a niche market.

mgkimsal 5y ago
3 big buttons at the top after search results "You're viewing through FOOBAR lens. Click here to view results from another lens". Doesn't have to be that complicated.
- antli35 5y ago
  To some extent that's already implemented in the form of the various tabs - if you want very recent results, go to the News tab or click the Tools button and select a time range. If you want academic results with citations, go to Google Scholar. If you want information from books, go to the Books tab. If you don't know/care, the main tab will mix results from all tabs. You can add three more buttons on top of the tabs that are already there, but would their value for more advanced users be worth the extra friction/confusion for average users? And how would it scale if someone wants a fourth, fifth, or tenth "lens"?
stingraycharles 5y ago
I agree, it’s the classic example of “people don’t really like choice”. When you are presented with the option of a search algo, there’s always this feeling that you chose wrong. It’s an additional thing to think about, and makes things more complicated.
- mgkimsal 5y ago
  it doesn't have to be an irreversible choice. clicking between 'filters' should be something that takes an instant, and is one click away.

imglorp 5y ago

> Image search still has a long way to go, IME. Try images.yandex.com: it's vastly better than most others. It's not too good at identifying specific people but it will find prior exact uses of an image (like TinEye) but is especially very good at abstracting what's the abstract subject, color, pose, setting etc in a photo and show you similar.

fomine3 5y ago
Also Bellingcat recommends Yandex: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2019/12/26/guide-to-using-reverse-image-search-for-investigations/ https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2019/12/26/guid...

Method-X 5y ago

This is what Brave Search calls “Goggles” [1]. [1] https://brave.com/static-assets/files/goggles.pdf https://brave.com/static-assets/files/goggles.pdf

mgkimsal 5y ago

EDIT: adding on to previous post. We now have a couple digital generations of folks who've grown up with 'web', and we've generated billions of 'documents'. TIME ACCURATE QUERIES need to be mainstream. "Let me search for FOOBAR and get results that would have been accurate/returned for Dec 11, 2006. Now search for FOOBAR and get results from Dec 11, 2014", etc.

zw123456 5y ago

I agree with you on this. I search for tech topics a lot and google offers an option to search "scholarly articles". I like that option as sometimes a tech term gets confused with something else. It would be great if there was a way to select from some check boxed, like an advanced search, "search only for semiconductor datasheets" or "search all Jazz music" or upload a picture and "identify an insect" (agree that does not work well yet) or whatever someone might be interested in. The question is if such an approach would lure a lot of people away, I could see an entry angle might be a front end to google with an app that does that.