Web start-up
Powerset
has offered a glimpse into the future of search with tools that allow Wikipedia
users to employ "conversational phrasing" techniques instead of keywords.
The US-based company is the latest search specialist to showcase tools that
embrace the principle of semantic search, often espoused by web inventor Sir Tim
Berners-Lee.
A 'semantic' approach differs from the current generation of keyword services
used by Google, Yahoo and Microsoft by attempting to understand the actual
meaning of a query.
Instead of throwing up a batch of isolated links that require further
research, as often happens with keyword searches, Powerset claims to offer a
means of getting detailed answers more efficiently.
When surfers click on a search result they can summarise long pages of
content, helping them to pinpoint key information quickly, according to the
company.
"Unlike other search engines that index keywords, Powerset does a deep
linguistic analysis on every sentence it reads," said the company in a
statement.
"We extract and index facts about each sentence in each page, making our
index the first truly robust semantic index of the web."
Powerset is currently limited to Wikipedia, but the company intends to expand
the search technology to other products in the coming months.
Information Systems and Technologies Joining our highly rated Council, you'll help shape the future of Information Systems and be involved with exciting developments across the Council such as implementing new IT systems, going LIVE with ... more >
London, United Kingdom | London School of Economics
Development Manager, London, £45,585 - £52,806 PA LSE is a cosmopolitan community in the centre of London focusing on the study of the social sciences. With a centralised delivery model IT Services provides information technology ... more >
Technical Author, Leeds You'll be part of a team within our UKCRN Coordinating Centre, working closely with different members of staff on specific initiatives and also with core clinical and management staff. You will liaise ... more >
Business Applications Analyst, London, £28,683 - £38,470 The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)] is a publicly-funded body with over 30 years experience of working with employers, employees and trade unions to deliver better employment ... more >More job opportunities
Print
Discuss
Send to friend
RSS feeds
Daily news podcast
del.icio.us
Digg this
reddit!
