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Google Turns On User-Tweakable Search Wiki

Posted by timothy on from the enhance-enhance dept.

Barence writes "Google has launched a new service that allows users to tailor to their own search results. Called SearchWiki, the service allows Google account holders to move results up or off the rankings, or even add their own choice of site to the top of the search results. Google claims that any changes a user makes will only affect their results, and not those of fellow surfers, although it's difficult to believe that some of the feedback generated from the SearchWiki won't be used to fine tune the Google search algorithm. Is this a cunning way to encourage people to sign in while they search, thus providing Google with a richer set of data that can be mapped to specific user accounts?"

5 of 161 comments (clear)

  1. Google bombing by xx_chris · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If they didn't limit this to the single user, then Google bombing would be even more effective. I suppose they can still use negative votes for spam research.

    1. Re:Google bombing by SanityInAnarchy · · Score: 4, Interesting

      That would allow a different kind of Google bombing. Remember the anti-DRM campaign which gave Spore all those low ratings? Seems likely that they could just kill EA from search results...

      But even if it's just limited to a single user, it would be helpful to not have to put -site:expertsexchange.com in every search.

      --
      Don't thank God, thank a doctor!
  2. annoying "feature" by a302b · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This seems to just be a way to refine search results and collect more specified data. This is great for Google's aims of collecting all the data in the universe, but an annoying "feature" for me.

    I really dislike the "refined" searches, especially as Google's memory lasts for a long time. If I am doing a project on something, or am really interested in a topic (lets say travelling to Timbuktu), I will search it to death. However, a week later, when I am trying to search for something else (say used cars), I have to slog through a bunch of pages about car sales in Timbuktu!

    Sigh.

    --
    Unity in Diversity
  3. Wikia by saibot834 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    They adopted (or will be adopting) a core principle of Wikia Search, and that is user generated content (and ranking search results is some kind of content). On Wikia, everyone can change search results, insert new links and delete them.
    However, user generated content needs a community (in this case mainly to prevent or revert spamming) - and google had many unsuccessful community projects in the past... I wonder if they are foolish enough to try it again.
    When it comes to community projects many people object to the idea of working for free towards another one's gain. That's why nonprofits like the Free Software Foundation (GNU project) and the Wikimedia Foundation (Wikipedia) are so successful at building high quality producing communities. I don't think that google has a chance here.

  4. Re:What is the point? by Viceroy+Potatohead · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I guess for 95% of all common searchterms, there is an informative Wiki-article

    My initial thought to that was:

    "Maybe common for everyone else, but I must make a lot more uncommon searches. I mean, Wikipedia doesn't have a 'disney ass sluts' category, while Google returned 119 results."

    But then I realized it does have an article on Britney Spears, so you may have a point.