Better Search Results Than Google?

Mechanik writes "CNN has an AP article about the next generation of up and coming search tools, which try to cope with the glut of hits that result from 'conventional' search engines such as Google. One tool, Vivisimo, "is like a superfast librarian who can instantly arrange the titles on shelves in a way that makes sense. [...] But unlike libraries, Vivisimo doesn't use predefined categories. Its software determines them on the fly, depending on the search results. The filing is done through a combination of linguistic and statistical analysis." Grokker, another, downloadable program, "not only sorts search results into categories but also "maps" the results in a holistic way, showing each category as a colorful circle. Within each circle, subcategories appear as more circles that can be clicked on and zoomed in on." You have to love the author's use of trying to look for a hotel in France with the terms 'Paris Hilton' as an example of searching gone awry."

Comments

Vivisimo

[dreamchaser]

They aren't off to a very good start:

Problem occurred while using Vivisimo::

Currently under heavy load. Please try again shortly

Please go back to the Vivisimo home page and try your query again

Re:Vivisimo

[JWW]

Well, this is one strike against them. I can't seem to remember google ever being slashdotted.

AP strikes again

[97cobra]

Glad to see AP covering a site thats been operational for 2 years, nothing like cutting edge reporting.

Re:Nice work, people

[npistentis]

you have to admit, this may be the first time we've managed to Slashdot a search engine. Yet another /. milestone!

Re:Better search results than Google? It will happ

[CrayzyJ]

" and it gets mentioned on Buffy, which is as good a cultural barometer as we are ever likely to have"

Gawd help us. Society now sucks if that is our barometer.

Google, the verb, has been mentioned on Law & Order. _THAT_ tells me it has entered the mainstream.

Querying slashdot effect...

[alexatrit]

A query on "slashdot effect" returned the following groupings, before the engine died under load.

slashdot effect (111)
o Technology (18)
o Definition (11)
o Story (9)
o Also spelled (9)
o Analysis, Three Internet Publications (5)
o Source (7)
o Sarcasta.net (3)
o Spy (2)
o Downloads (3)
o Surviving The Slashdot Effect (3)

Their cluster groups are interesting, but their top X results behave a lot like Google. Most of the results are the same as well. I do like how it lists where the result was sourced, however.

That's all we need...

[garethwi]

...a search engine which can't handle a slashdotting.

Re:Better search results than Google? It will happ

[nealfunkbass]

I think you misspelled barfometer

Re:Every so often...

[Cruciform]

There was this guy who really wanted to get into my pants. So every time I had a major assignment I'd hang out with the other girls until the day before it was due, then just have him search for me.
A few cut and pastes and I got at least a B+ every time.

Who needs a search engine when you've got a push up bra? :)

Oh, I have to do it.....

[Lxy]

Here's the Google Cache of Vivisimo.