Microsoft Uses Human Computing Game To Tune Bing

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Monday July 27, 2009 @05:05AM 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?"

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Looks like fun by Brian+Gordon · 2009-07-27 05:10 · 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 · 2009-07-27 05:13 · 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 · 2009-07-27 06:03 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  yeah, well the jerk store called. they're running out of you.
Gee, but... by Chris+Pimlott · 2009-07-27 05:27 · Score: 5, Funny

I sure hope no one tells 4chan about this.
Re:Finally... by A.+B3ttik · 2009-07-27 05:39 · 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."