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Avatar Went Hot: November 11, 2007 - 9:53 am
Posted By: nowsourcing 243 days ago
Topic Type: News Story (Jump to http://www.readwriteweb.com)
Category: Searching
TrueKnowledge, currently in beta, appears to have a slick looking natural language search with an extensive knowledgebase. Kind of like ask.com smart answers, but much more complex.

Be sure to watch the video.
10 Comments     

Comments

from TannerHobin 243 days ago #
Votes: 2 | Vote:
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That really sounds like th Dyson vacuum guy.

from nowsourcing 243 days ago #
Votes: 1 | Vote:
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@tanner: well, that automatically makes it good, right? :)

from jeffquipp 242 days ago #
Votes: 3 | Vote:
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Seems like a possible Google killer ... though Google will buy them for that reason.

from WayneSmallman 241 days ago #
Votes: 1 | Vote:
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This does sound very similar to Twine, which I also read about on Read / WriteWeWeb some time ago.

It's interesting how the web is being transformed — ad hoc fashion — into a semantic web, which makes you wonder how things will be once the web becomes semantic more fully...

from nyirendac 240 days ago #
Votes: 1 | Vote:
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@jeffquipp:So you understand Google's tactics quite well :)

from nowsourcing 240 days ago #
Votes: 1 | Vote:
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@jeffquipp: perhaps, would be an easy acquisition for them.

@waynesmallman: Twine looks interesting, but looks almost more like social news than a search engine.

@myirendac: indeed, but you never know.  Google could be working on something similar...

from flyingrose 240 days ago #
Votes: 0 | Vote:
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Did you see I, Cringley's Nov 2 column about Google buying and/or killing off their competitors. It is our fault if we keep letting that happen. If we would promote the little guy some of them would refuse to sell out and then Google won't end up with a monopoly.

from garyprice 240 days ago #
Votes: 1 | Vote:
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A couple of quick comments with the understanding, as many of you know, that in addition to editing ResourceShelf I work at Ask.com.

1) Ask.com offers a variety of "Smart Answers" based on the query, source(S), etc. Some involve more human knowledge engineering than others.

Example 1:
Oscar best picture 1972.
Here we offer an answer direct from the IMDB, with a link to the IMDB for more info.
http://www.ask.com/web?l=dir&o=ffx&q=oscar+best+picture+1972

Example 2:
This one offers hook-up for investment info and a specific results, in this case, a specific number at the top of the results page:
http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=167&o=ffx&l=dir&q=outstanding+shares+csco&search=search

3) A third type of SA, looks at the specific terms to deliver the most precise result possible.

Example. Average Precipitation Portland December.

http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=167&o=ffx&l=dir&q=Average+rainfall+Portland+december&search=search

Also, worth pointing out that if a searcher does not specify a state, we usually use the largest city. However, we also provide direct links to other cities with that same name.

4) In some cases, we've gone into reference sources and pulled out a potential answer.
Example:
Birth rate Burkina Faso
http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=167&o=ffx&l=dir&q=+birth+rate+Burkina+Faso&search=search
or
http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=167&o=ffx&l=dir&q=prime+minister+canada&search=search
or
capital of Madagascar
http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=167&o=ffx&l=dir&q=capital+ofdagascar&search=search

As a librarian I also appreciate the fact that several sources are listed, labeled, and linked.

Of course, we could go on and on but allow me to point out two more types:

The Beatles
A) Note the disambiguation. Perhaps you searched Beatles but want Ringo or George.

A large part of library school is learning how to conduct a reference interview.

B) The right rail with the ability to listen to three top tracks.

C) The number of sources.


Also, entering a classic album title might also offer a smart answer.
http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=2352&o=ffx&l=dir&q=abbey+road&search=search

What about an album title that uses a term that can mean many things? Carole King's classic Tapestry is a good example. While the Encyclopedia answer is our front, a look at the Zoom Related Results (Narrow your search) reveals "Carole King" tapestry, click and the result with a list of top tracks from all music appears.
http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=167&o=ffx&l=dir&q=tapestry&search=search

Finally, something fairly new. Health Smart Answers. Body parts, diseases, prescip and otc drugs. However, answers can be different depending on the terms.

++) Claratin side effects
http://www.ask.com/web?q=claritin+side+effects&qsrc=19&o=ffx&l=dir

and

Claratin Composition
http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=167&o=ffx&l=dir&q=claritin+composition&search=search

Note the diff results and snippets.

So, what I find most useful about Ask SA's (as a librarian/researcher) is the variety, different types, number of sources and in some cases, timeliness. For example, World Series 2007 Winner is up to date.
http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=167&o=ffx&l=dir&q=world+series+2007+winner&search=search

cheers,
gary

p.s. I think it's also worth noting two more points.

1) A smart answer might not give a specific results but LEAD the user to a specific database that might be able to help.
Wedding Registry Jill Smith is one example. Directing to the user to a federated database of 8 us registries.
http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=167&o=ffx&l=dir&q=wedding+registry+jill+smith&search=search

2) The ability to produce a growing number of SPECIFIC inline image results on WEB RESULTS pages.

Watercolors of flowers
http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=167&o=ffx&l=dir&q=watercolors+of+flowers&search=search

University of Oregon Logos
http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=167&o=ffx&l=dir&q=University+of+Oregon+logos&search=search

from garyprice 240 days ago #
Votes: 0 | Vote:
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One more note. Sometimes symbols best describe what one might want. Ask is now slowly starting to make them searchable. Beginning with some emoticons and a well-known news web site.

http://www.ask.com/web?l=dir&o=ffx&q=%3A-O
http://www.ask.com/web?l=dir&o=ffx&q=%3A-%29
http://www.ask.com/web?l=dir&o=ffx&q=%2F

from nowsourcing 238 days ago #
Votes: 0 | Vote:
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Wow, Gary.  Wow.  Bookmarked for later, but this looks fantastic from a quick read!


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