Google Search Wiki
Google Search Wiki is a new Google feature that allows you to move, delete, and comment on search results. Feature was first released for a select group of users, but went mainstream on November 20th, 2008 to all Google account users with the official statement:Today we’re launching SearchWiki, a way for you to customize search by re-ranking, deleting, adding, and commenting on search results. With just a single click you can move the results you like to the top or add a new site. You can also write notes attached to a particular site and remove results that you don’t feel belong. These modifications will be shown to you every time you do the same search in the future.
Where did Search Wiki Come From?
According to Google they’ve tested search Wiki on hundreds of thousands users and determined test results positive. This means that Search Wiki was in development for at least few months, but the question is where did it come from?
Googlified spotted this exact project on Google Labs Experimental November 28th, 2007:
On a result page, you can choose move a search result to the top by clicking on the up-arrow corresponding result, which will be marked by an orange asterisk next time you search for the same keywords. Similarly, if you don’t like the page, you can hide it in future searches for the same keywords by clicking on the X button next to the title of the result
It thus safe to say that Search Wiki was in development for at least 1 year. Search Wikia, a search engine from Wikipedia launched on January 07, 2008, so Google was experimenting with their version before Jim Whales unleashed his.
The rumor was that the original Search Wiki Google Labs experiment was a copy of Digg Style votes, but logic tells there was more at stake. As a leading search engine Google is aware of all search developments in the world through news, reporters and insiders. It wouldn’t be far fetched to say that execs at Google are always tipped off on new tech and search developments in US and other countires, by partners, friends and insiders, which must’ve been the case with Search Wikia that was in development for a while. Knowing the power of Wikipedia brand, and being the leading force in search Google had to take action – thus Search Wiki was born. This move blocked Wikipedia Search from having a unique advantage over Google – custom search results, and allow Google to mantain the upper hand over all competition.
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