SearchWiki: Search Engine Paradigm Shift
November 24th, 2008
After my initial knee jerk reaction to Google SearchWiki, I have had some time to digest the change to user assisted search results. It appears as though this may be a signal from the world’s most popular search engine that a major change is afoot. SearchWiki provides proof there is major change in the way we interact with the web, a search engine paradigm shift.
Could Google’s attempt at a SearchWiki be a realization of the limits to an open search engine? Will search results in the future become more like results you see on social media sites like Digg.com where users vote on the best article? Will it force companies to focus more on brand building and user experience?
Most social media sites tend to fit a niche community and produce niche results for that community. It could be a huge gamble by Google to try to be all things to all people, not staying focused and damaging their brand. Personally, I would have rather seen Google spin off a version of their index with new experimental features rather than make it part of their general results.
Could Google’s attempt at a SearchWiki be a realization of the limits to an open search engine? Will search results in the future become more like results you see on social media sites like Digg.com where users vote on the best article? Will it force companies to focus more on brand building and user experience?
Most social media sites tend to fit a niche community and produce niche results for that community. It could be a huge gamble by Google to try to be all things to all people, not staying focused and damaging their brand. Personally, I would have rather seen Google spin off a version of their index with new experimental features rather than make it part of their general results.
