In search of a more intelligent search

The race is on to see who will create the next generation search engine. As ubiquitous as search queries are in the daily personal and business lives of most connected individuals, end-users are increasingly joining search's critics in wanting more. According to analysts, industry observers and vendors vying for a seat at the search table, individuals are averaging 11 minutes looking for what they want using the "pidgin" English that characterizes the way we talk to our search engines. Even with that effort, a recent analyst report suggests that a full 50 percent of online transactions end impotently because buyers can't find what they want. Next generation searches will use natural language and will do a better job of working with multiple media types to deliver more responsive results. At stake are millions of dollars and the hearts and minds of web surfers around the world.

For more on next-gen search:
- Check out this Information Week article