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Finding Friends Via Search Query Analysis

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the liking-the-same-things-i-do dept.

prostoalex writes "How many times have you met an interesting person, who happened to check out the same book in the library, or listen to the same music as you do? Researchers from University of Chicago suggest that it would be kinda cool if you could find like-minded people by analyzing the queries submitted to a Web search engine. Their PDF paper explains the research in more detail."

10 of 190 comments (clear)

  1. Bob? by SpanishInquisition · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is that you?

    --
    Je t'aime Stéphanie
  2. Sounds like stalking to me ;) by caluml · · Score: 5, Funny
    Hi, I er found you by monitoring your searching habits, what food you eat, and what shops you go to....

    What, no I'm not a stalker...

    What do you mean.... Hello?... Hello?

    --
    Get your own free personal location tracker
  3. Um... ya by OpMindFck · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So, if the government or a corporation tracks an individuals surfing habits, it's bad. If we do it to get a date, it's good.
    Perhaps I'm missing something.

    --
    Sipping on Jolt and Dew. Laid back. With my mind of my cubicle and my cubicle on my mind.
  4. What about referers? by CoolQ · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Forget about search queries, what about referers? I've met a lot of interesting people by looking at the referrer logs for my blog/website, and following them back to their blogs. I've even met some of them in person after talking to them online.

    Talk about coincidence... I met someone <wink wink> less than 50 miles from me, who linked to an obscure page on my web site.

  5. Old news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Direct marketers have been compiling this sort of information for years. From it they know that I'd like to increase various body parts, want a mortgage, need septic tank service, enjoy RC cars, and would like to meet other people and animals. Works flawlessly!

  6. coming soon.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    http://matchmaker.google.com/

  7. I don't think so by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Finding somebody just like me? Fuck No! I can't even stand one of me.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  8. social engineering by ChrisTower · · Score: 5, Funny

    I remember the days before the internet when people actually spoke to each other. I'm fairly sure that conversation is far more effective than analyzing search patterns and much faster too. Don't forget that the shortest distance between you and that person's bed is a straight so stop trying to hack their personality.

    Of course, this is only a suggestion and nothing that I'd actually do myself; I'm more the stalker type.

    --

    I'm tired of bombing the universe
  9. AudioScrobbler by mgaiman · · Score: 5, Informative

    What about AudioScrobbler? They use the music that you listen to and compare it to the music other people listen to. They then find people with similar music tastes to you, and then you can expand your tastes by looking at what they listen to.

    (see my audioscrobbler>

  10. Good point, but it doesn't exactly matter. by Bold+Marauder · · Score: 5, Funny

    I doubt that even the combined resources of government and corporations could get many of us dates!