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Microsoft Uses Human Computing Game To Tune Bing

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the wtb-better-rewards dept.

Al writes "Microsoft researchers have come up with a novel way to fine-tune the algorithms behind the company's new search engine, Bing: a game that harnesses human computing power to improve the results. Called Page Hunt, the game (which of course requires Silverlight to run) shows users a web page and asks them to figure out a search query that should produce the page within the first five results. The idea is to better understand user behavior and expectations and ultimately improve its search algorithms. Other human-computing projects have sought to digitize out-of-print text (reCAPTCHA) and image labeling (Google Image Labeler). Can Microsoft use a similar approach to gain the edge over its rival? Or does Google already have the edge with SearchWiki, which lets searchers re-rank its results?"

12 of 119 comments (clear)

  1. Looks like fun by Brian+Gordon · · Score: 5, Funny

    After the success of Page Hunt, Microsoft is developing a sequel called File Reports. Players earn points by filling out real business forms and increasing productivity!

    1. Re:Looks like fun by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Apple has a game too. It's called Jobs for Jobs. You buy a mac and then give Steve a metaphorical blowjob on message boards about how awesome his products are.

    2. Re:Looks like fun by jank1887 · · Score: 4, Funny

      yeah, well the jerk store called. they're running out of you.

  2. Should write a program to play it by Erelas · · Score: 2, Funny

    That'll put a spoke in their wheel.

  3. Wait for it... by Snarkalicious · · Score: 3, Funny

    This must be the beta. I don't see mention of a monthly charge, yet.

  4. Gee, but... by Chris+Pimlott · · Score: 5, Funny

    I sure hope no one tells 4chan about this.

  5. fail? by postmortem · · Score: 2, Funny

    In other words, Microsoft service does not have solution. Microsoft asks users to provide results for themselves...

  6. Re:Finally... by A.+B3ttik · · Score: 4, Funny

    Don't worry, I'll sabotage them by tagging all of the scatplay and goatse pictures with things like "Cute Lesbian Teens" or "Vista Troubleshoot Help."

  7. Silverlight, no thanks by thetoadwarrior · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've got better things to do with my time than to do MS' job for them while having to install Silverlight at the same time.

    Though without Silverlight, it may have been fun to come up with search queries for innocent things that involve gay animal sex, clown shoes and old people's inability to control their bowels.

  8. Show of hands ... by jamesl · · Score: 3, Funny

    Or does Google already have the edge with SearchWiki, which lets searchers re-rank its results.

    Anybody who has used SearchWiki to re-rank Google results, hold you hand up. Up high. Keep 'em up. Anyone? I didn't think so.

  9. Re:So you're anchoring the algorithm... by The+Wooden+Badger · · Score: 2, Funny

    4chan, or a bunch of Microsoft haters that would pretty much never use Bing anyway. I can't think of anywhere that a bunch of Microsoft haters hang out on the interwebs. It definitely wouldn't happen on slashdot.

    --
    Heroscape, it's like legos combined with anachronistic wargames.
  10. Re:So you're anchoring the algorithm... by freyyr890 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Congratulations. You just invented the bing bomb.