Search engine trends 2006

The document discusses factors that affect how people search and the results they get from search engines. It summarizes that search engines have expanded beyond websites to include searching from mobile devices, desktops, emails, documents and other file formats. Search engines are also able to provide local search results from personal files in addition to web-based results. As search engines learn more about users' interests, geography, social networks and behaviors, they can provide more tailored search results matching individual user preferences.

Transcript

1. Search engine trends 2006 Factors affecting how we search, what we search and the results we get Stockholm, November 2006 XLENT Consulting Group PER AXBOM, XLENT 0708 – 77 80 08 Factors affecting how we search, what we search and the results we get Stockholm, November 2006
2. 2 How we search – anywhere, anytime n Search engines are no longer chained to a specific site or domain. For years it has been possible to install, as many have, browser toolbars that enable search without having to visit a specific website. n This phenomenon has now expanded to computer desktops, allowing users to start a search without necessarily launching a browser window. n It doesn’t stop there however, as a web search may well be launched through mobile devices through text messaging (SMS) services as well as voice-operated devices.
3. 3 Mobile search To: web search environment and energy issues From: web search View e-learning video from Vattenfall >
4. 4 Desktop search
5. 5 What we search – everything! n An ongoing expansion within the field of web search has to do with the ever-increasing file formats that can be indexed and found through search engines. n The broader adoption of W3C recommendations and web standards allow search engines to find, index and in an intelligible manner show results that are beyond text formats, including images, audio and video formats. n Search engines now also provide us with the ability to include not only Internet-based results but also local results such as our personal e-mail or documents on a local or network drive and even chat logs. In all probability calendar items and contacts are next. n This will give users a greater freedom in choosing the information format that is best suited for their current needs and also enable users to quickly find items that they have viewed before!
6. 6 Searching the web… and my computer! A search using Google Desktop will return not only web pages but also e-mail messages, documents and more…
7. 7 Search Results – matching user preferences n Search algorithms are continuously evolving, giving us more and more exact searches. As search engines are becoming masters of processing web- based information they now need to look the other way, towards the user, to make the perfect match. n By learning more about the user performing the search, search engines can provide better results that are based upon: n Geography, where am I? – Mobile phone users can receive information about points of interest in an immediate physical area, based on Geo-information that their mobile phone provides. n Interests and behaviour, what do I like? – By giving access to my email, my documents and the web sites I visit it is safe to assume that the search engine can deliver results that are truer to my interests. n Social networks, who do I know? – The idea is that groups share common interests – and I will be interested in the same items that other members of my groups are interested in.
8. 8 Vertical web search (Eurekster.com) Eurekster allows you to publish a community powered search engine, tailored to produce only search results that you and your community want! A buzz cloud shows what is hot in your community and makes it easy to find the best content. The search results from the swicki you create are much more focused than a general search engine and they will continue to learn and adapt, anonymously and automatically, based on the search behavior of your community. energytoday-swicki.eurekster.com
9. 9 Users n Users are counting more and more on search engines to solve their problems. The best search engines provide relevant content fast, and users are coming to expect the same from local, site- based search engines. n Do not expect users to readily provide information about themselves. Users will expect good search results from a single query, without having to give up more information about themselves. Search engines that can perform automated collection of user information can be expected to outperform the competition. – As soon as an application is dependent on data entered by users, the data tends to become inexact and outdated.
10. 10 Copyright © 2005 by XLENT No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise - without the permission of XLENT. This document provides an outline of a presentation and is incomplete without the accompanying oral commentary and discussion. Thank you Per Axbom per.axbom@xlent.se 0708-77 80 08