Media:Medium

What if search engines were more than just tools? Google is best known for their search engine. Their simple goal to organize information has lead them into all kinds of markets. They are one of the most innovative companies on the planet. But, they have been neglecting their search engine. Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia has been funding a new type of search engine.  A search engine that doesn't share information with advertisers. This new search engine will have some social elements and allow users to rate searches.  Google does own the concept simple fast searches, but people want more than that. They want richer searches. Not everyone wants to search differently, but the time is right for search engine innovation.

Ask.com has been trying to differentiate their algorithm and Yahoo still offers a rich portal page. I believe the true innovation will come when we move beyond the simple search. Before the end of the decade we will have a powerful visual search engine. Johnathan Harris, The creator of wefeelfine.org, teamed up with Daylife to create the Universe. Daylife takes headlines and links them to multiple global perspectives. The Universe is a visual interface that illustrates the universe of a particular subject in the form of stars and shapes. As broadband speeds pick up, so will the power of visual and even audio browsing. Searching isn't just about information. Context is important too. You can add any word in front of search to get an idea of how things are changing. Social search, responsible search, local search, and visual search are just some examples. Try optimizing that.  We are moving beyond text. Slowly but surely.

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