Friday, November 02, 2007
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predictive searching
Lately I've been playing with the quick search option in my web browser. It's a text box that gives search results right away (i.e., without having to go to a search page like Google). It can be set to use various different search engines (although I try non-Google options on a regular basis as a matter of principle, I have to admit that Google best serves my general searching needs. Or maybe I've just been Google-brainwashed into taking its idiosyncracies into account when I search). In any event, my main interest in the quick search option is its predictive search suggestions (active only for a few search engines, it seems): based on the letters typed so far, it attempts to guess my search terms, and displays them below the text box. Presumably this is based on frequency in some way (and definitely time-sensitive as you'll see below). So I've been playing with it a bit to see what it thinks I'm looking for. What better than the ego search? Below are the terms that are suggested as I attempt to search for myself on Google:

D: dictionary (followed by Dell, dictionary.com [interesting to see that people are using search for this, rather than just browing to it], dancing with the stars, debenhams [UK department store])

DA: Dancing with the Stars (currently popular US TV series based on the BBC format "Strictly Come Dancing". Followed by Dallas Cowboys, Daylight Savings Time [currently relevant], Daily Mail [UK newspaper, subject of much sneering in the Dunce household], dating).

DAV: Davids Bridal (US chain of bridal shops David's Bridal. Followed by David Beckham, David Copperfield, Dave and Busters, and only then David's Bridal [the web-searching public do not seem inclined to use apostrophes. see also "Dave and Busters").

DAVI: Davids Bridal (again)

DAVID: Davids Bridal (again)

DAVID : David Beckham (UK Ambassador to People's Republic of Southern California, followed by various other Davids not including me: Copperfield, Jones [Aussie department store, and a very common name], Bowie, Letterman).

DAVID V: David Villa (Spanish footballer currently playing for Valencia. Followed by David Vitter [US senator from Louisiana], David Vendetta [French band], David vs Goliath [Bible story used metaphorically all over the place]. I still don't feature)

DAVID VI: David Villa (again, followed by Vitter, Vincent and Virtue)

DAVID VIN: David Vincent (Morbid Angel frontman, followed by Vine [UK sports presenter], Viner [blues musician] and Vinson [Dunce!])

DAVID VINS: The only suggestion given is my name (shared with many other DVs, of course). So I am a relatively unpopular search until you reach the world of phrases beginning with "DAVID VINS".


Yahoo (I will not add the !) gives slightly different results which could say something about the typical Yahoo vs. Google user:
D: Daylight Savings Time 2007 (dictionary, daylight savings time, daylight saving time, driving directions)

DA: it's all Daylight Saving/Savings related

DAV: Davids Bridal (followed by Harley Davidson [the first case in which the search term doesn't begin with the letters specified!], Copperfield and Beckham)

DAVI: Davids Bridal (again)

DAVID: Davids Bridal (again)

DAVID : David Copperfield is first (followed by Beckham, Blaine, Letterman, Lee Roth. Seems to be more USA-centric than Google)

DAVID V: David Victoria Beckham (or maybe I spoke too soon! followed by Villa, Vetter and Vendetta)

DAVID VI: David Victoria Beckham (followed by David and Victoria Beckham wedding pictures, would you believe?)

DAVID VIN: David Vine is more popular than the Morbid Angel (followed by Vincent, Viner, Vinson)

DAVID VINS: My name, but many other suggestions too (David Vins, A David Vinson, David Vinski and so on).


Friday, November 02, 2007 2:01:15 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |   |