Google’s Approach: “Bottom Up” Ideation
Peter Norvig, Research Director at Google, posed a thought: “What comes out of research?” According to him, many tools from Google Labs arise in a “bottom-up fashion.” This method entails numerous engineers experimenting, with some projects gaining prominence. Notably, Google’s Adsense emerged when brainstorming monetization strategies for Gmail. Norvig also showcased Google’s prowess in delivering direct answers for factual questions, such as Japan’s population, terming such responses as “One Box” searches. Furthermore, Norvig highlighted Google’s achievement in “Statistical machine translation,” referencing their top position in a NIST competition.
Image Processing: Challenges and Triumphs
Delving into the intricate world of image processing, Norvig shared Google’s attempts at “face localization” in group photos. Determining a person’s identity on the web remains elusive, with gender identification being their current reliable outcome. Interestingly, Bradley Horowitz, VP of product strategy at Yahoo, took the baton, bringing his expertise in computer vision to the discussion. Horowitz praised Yahoo’s Flickr image tagging, noting, “People plus algorithms are greater than algorithms.” He emphasized the growing importance of “Authority of Trust” in search.
Yahoo’s Emphasis: Community-Centric Search
Horowitz emphasized Yahoo’s commitment to enhancing user experience. Initiatives like Yahoo Answers highlight their belief in the potential of user-generated content. In one enlightening anecdote, Horowitz wished search engines could suggest the nearest Starbucks en route to an event, a feature Google’s Peter Norvig probably found amusing, considering Google Maps’ capability to do just that.
MSN’s Approach: Enhancing Ad Center Capabilities
MSN’s James Colborn discussed the advancements in the Ad Center labs. With an aim to refine the paid search environment, MSN hopes to elevate data usage. Their tools in the Ad Center focus on optimizing conversion ratios. Features like keyword mutation tools display common misspellings, while acronym resolution offers expanded results. He guided users to visit AdLab, inviting feedback for improvement.
Feedback and Product Development
An interesting tidbit from the audience’s questions highlighted Google’s unique “20% time” policy, where engineers can spend 20% of their work hours on personal projects. Ideas stemming from this are presented to product management teams. These are then either escalated or sidelined based on votes.
A Glimpse into the Future of Search Engines
Despite the discrete emphasis of each company, the session illuminated their shared dedication to refining search experiences. While no groundbreaking products were announced, the audience surely left pondering the potential of future offerings. And as for misplaced keys? A one-box solution might be just around the corner.
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