Comments on: Video Of Mahalo v. Wikia Search At DLD; Google’s Marissa Mayer Weighs In http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/ Startup and Technology News Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:25:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: William Thacker http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1937628 William Thacker Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:18:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1937628 Thanks for your insights on DLD, Michael. Unbound Edition’s Teri Schindler was there with you, and she has posted her takeaway series over on UE. Hope you enjoy it as much as we’ve enjoyed yours. http://www.unboundedition.com/content/view/4389/54/ Thanks for your insights on DLD, Michael. Unbound Edition’s Teri Schindler was there with you, and she has posted her takeaway series over on UE. Hope you enjoy it as much as we’ve enjoyed yours.

http://www.unboundedition.com/.....w/4389/54/

]]> By: Sunil http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1935398 Sunil Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:51:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1935398 No body cares, when Google was new no body cared.... we all have a life and no one gives a penny for what human or non-human search would do. Google was not a conspiracy nor wikipedia..It Evolved by itself..you cannot push something into a man's throat..if it is better...the universe itself will adjust. This comparison is irrelavent No body cares, when Google was new no body cared…. we all have a life and no one gives a penny for what human or non-human search would do.

Google was not a conspiracy nor wikipedia..It Evolved by itself..you cannot push something into a man’s throat..if it is better…the universe itself will adjust.

This comparison is irrelavent

]]> By: Atlanta Ventures http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1935110 Atlanta Ventures Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:03:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1935110 Anyone interested in cross between wikipedia and youtube using interactive streaming video for news, dictionary, entertainment? email me atlantaventures@yahoo.com http://www.realviewtv.com Anyone interested in cross between wikipedia and youtube using interactive streaming video for news, dictionary, entertainment? email me

atlantaventures@yahoo.com
http://www.realviewtv.com

]]> By: The Drama 2.0 Show http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934960 The Drama 2.0 Show Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:56:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934960 <strong>Why Are These People Invited to Conferences?...</strong> The Digital Life Design conference in Munich hosted a session “Humans Disrupting Algorithms” and featured Jimmy Wales of Wikia and Jason Calacanis of Mahalo. According to TechCrunch: Jimmy and Jason each gave a brief overview of their human... Why Are These People Invited to Conferences?…

The Digital Life Design conference in Munich hosted a session “Humans Disrupting Algorithms” and featured Jimmy Wales of Wikia and Jason Calacanis of Mahalo. According to TechCrunch:
Jimmy and Jason each gave a brief overview of their human…

]]> By: Raul Lopez http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934344 Raul Lopez Tue, 22 Jan 2008 05:50:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934344 I firmly believe that Human-powered search is superior and I am working on a search engine to prove it. Why do you need 3,564,578 search results? In the words of one of my business partners "you need only ten good results". RAUL www.tengee.com I firmly believe that Human-powered search is superior and I am working on a search engine to prove it.

Why do you need 3,564,578 search results? In the words of one of my business partners “you need only ten good results”.

RAUL
http://www.tengee.com

]]> By: Some Dude http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934238 Some Dude Tue, 22 Jan 2008 04:04:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934238 Fair enough. Even so, I think it's important to realize that it must have value if it's attracting an audience. I should confess that I was an early critic, but I'm now officially reserving judgment until I can understand why people are using it. I think that anyone with a sound mind for business should be able to see past their own needs and consider the needs of their users/customers; people in the web business obviously have no need for it, but that doesn't mean there isn't a useful object lesson to be learned. I think you cheat yourself if you blame it all on Calacanis's bluster and notoriety. I didn't suggest that you're a mindless wag, but I do think you're rationalizing and experiencing a case of unwillingness to see value. My point all along has been that tech-savvy folk like us are not the target audience. The target audience doesn't know what SEO is... hell, they don't know what TechCrunch is. Your critique is that they don't add value to search. My contention is that they don't add value to YOUR searches. If that idea doesn't ring true to you, it's entirely your prerogative. Still, I agree with your notion of judo marketing, but I sincerely doubt that Mahalo won't parlay that into new products. I'm all but convinced that even intelligent naysayers like you will find themselves utterly perplexed when Mahalo judo-flips their expectations. Fair enough.

Even so, I think it’s important to realize that it must have value if it’s attracting an audience. I should confess that I was an early critic, but I’m now officially reserving judgment until I can understand why people are using it. I think that anyone with a sound mind for business should be able to see past their own needs and consider the needs of their users/customers; people in the web business obviously have no need for it, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a useful object lesson to be learned. I think you cheat yourself if you blame it all on Calacanis’s bluster and notoriety. I didn’t suggest that you’re a mindless wag, but I do think you’re rationalizing and experiencing a case of unwillingness to see value. My point all along has been that tech-savvy folk like us are not the target audience. The target audience doesn’t know what SEO is… hell, they don’t know what TechCrunch is.

Your critique is that they don’t add value to search. My contention is that they don’t add value to YOUR searches. If that idea doesn’t ring true to you, it’s entirely your prerogative. Still, I agree with your notion of judo marketing, but I sincerely doubt that Mahalo won’t parlay that into new products. I’m all but convinced that even intelligent naysayers like you will find themselves utterly perplexed when Mahalo judo-flips their expectations.

]]> By: nemrut http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934225 nemrut Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:53:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934225 I can't understand a thing she's saying. why is the audio so bad? I can’t understand a thing she’s saying. why is the audio so bad?

]]> By: Ron http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934213 Ron Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:45:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934213 I think Google's in a MUCH better position than Mahalo to implement a human touch to search in a more pragmatic and useful fashion. They already have MASSIVE amounts of data on what users respond to in their existing results. We're also seeing the first evolutionary steps with their personal search. More recently has been the experimental ability to vote on listings within the results (which currently only effects personal search, but that obviously has the potential to eventually be extended on a broader level.) Most recently, Yahoo began introducing Del.ico.us content in their search results (which is arguably some of the best content out there IMO.) Both of these engines have far larger pools of data to work with to get a more realistic feel about what exactly people are looking for and how much to let them control what shows up. Mahalo's little more than just another web directory - it's just so much more blatant in its SEO intent coming in this late in the game. You can't really fault it for that. Google's created the ecosystem all sites are trying to play in currently (the whole 'social' web wouldn't be a glimmer of its current self without Google's link-dependent nature giving these sites a new audience.) But like I said above, I have no doubts they're trying to use personalization and a gradual combination of user feedback (in some form or fashion) to push us toward the next evolutionary step of a more hybrid style search engine. I think Google’s in a MUCH better position than Mahalo to implement a human touch to search in a more pragmatic and useful fashion. They already have MASSIVE amounts of data on what users respond to in their existing results. We’re also seeing the first evolutionary steps with their personal search. More recently has been the experimental ability to vote on listings within the results (which currently only effects personal search, but that obviously has the potential to eventually be extended on a broader level.) Most recently, Yahoo began introducing Del.ico.us content in their search results (which is arguably some of the best content out there IMO.)

Both of these engines have far larger pools of data to work with to get a more realistic feel about what exactly people are looking for and how much to let them control what shows up. Mahalo’s little more than just another web directory - it’s just so much more blatant in its SEO intent coming in this late in the game. You can’t really fault it for that. Google’s created the ecosystem all sites are trying to play in currently (the whole ’social’ web wouldn’t be a glimmer of its current self without Google’s link-dependent nature giving these sites a new audience.) But like I said above, I have no doubts they’re trying to use personalization and a gradual combination of user feedback (in some form or fashion) to push us toward the next evolutionary step of a more hybrid style search engine.

]]> By: Marcelo Calbucci http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934212 Marcelo Calbucci Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:45:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934212 At #8... If you had spent the time to do one extra click and see the "About Me" on my blog you'd have seen my resume, which includes 4.5 years working on a Search Engine. That's what gives me authority to talk about the subject, not my startup which has absolutely nothing to do with Search Engines and I won't be benefit either way, if Mahalo is successful or not. At #8… If you had spent the time to do one extra click and see the “About Me” on my blog you’d have seen my resume, which includes 4.5 years working on a Search Engine. That’s what gives me authority to talk about the subject, not my startup which has absolutely nothing to do with Search Engines and I won’t be benefit either way, if Mahalo is successful or not.

]]> By: Daniel Gibbons http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934186 Daniel Gibbons Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:09:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934186 @17: OK, but my main point isn't that Mahalo won't be successful in attracting users. But just because that's true it doesn't mean they're building a better way of searching the web than Google, or that Jason's claims that Google is a haven for spammers and unethical SEO tactics are valid. Mahalo's much closer to a directory or portal than a search engine, but Jason is being a smart businessman and using some "judo marketing" tactics to assume the position of David to Google's Goliath. I'm not interested in a flame war, either, but I do take issue with your implication that anyone who is critical of the value Mahalo offers to search has "limited vision" or is no different from those blindly saying "Mahalo sucks, lol." @17: OK, but my main point isn’t that Mahalo won’t be successful in attracting users. But just because that’s true it doesn’t mean they’re building a better way of searching the web than Google, or that Jason’s claims that Google is a haven for spammers and unethical SEO tactics are valid.

Mahalo’s much closer to a directory or portal than a search engine, but Jason is being a smart businessman and using some “judo marketing” tactics to assume the position of David to Google’s Goliath.

I’m not interested in a flame war, either, but I do take issue with your implication that anyone who is critical of the value Mahalo offers to search has “limited vision” or is no different from those blindly saying “Mahalo sucks, lol.”

]]> By: jonathan http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934178 jonathan Tue, 22 Jan 2008 02:57:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934178 WTF is that chick in the 2nd video saying lol. The audio quality is so bad that I can only make out every 20th word lol, it is like listening to another language. WTF is that chick in the 2nd video saying lol.

The audio quality is so bad that I can only make out every 20th word lol, it is like listening to another language.

]]> By: Nick http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934170 Nick Tue, 22 Jan 2008 02:48:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934170 #7 hit the nail on the head. Mahalo adds on unnecessary step to finding information from Google, much like automated search engine result scrapers do. If Google would do the right thing, they should consider banning Mahalo from their results, just like they do other spammers. #7 hit the nail on the head.

Mahalo adds on unnecessary step to finding information from Google, much like automated search engine result scrapers do.

If Google would do the right thing, they should consider banning Mahalo from their results, just like they do other spammers.

]]> By: Some Dude http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934168 Some Dude Tue, 22 Jan 2008 02:47:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934168 Daniel - Actually, I always look into the background of naysayers, particularly when they voluntarily provide links to their blogs and LinkedIn profiles. I have no agenda, as their success or failure puts no money in my pocket. I've watched Mahalo for a few months though, and as much as their momentum perplexes me, the amount of ill will and negative feelings Calacanis generates is the truly astounding part. I'm not convinced that human-powered search isn't just a hyped-up business model, but I can only come to one conclusion when I see that it's working for the nonce, yet people insist on predicting it's failure. If you felt slighted by my comment, rest assured that it wasn't as much about you as it about people in the internet business allowing their emotions to obscure the obvious facts. If people are using it and you still fail to see the need for it, then respectfully, I think your vision is limited. Useful to you? Probably not. But Mahalo users don't need to weigh in: their sheer numbers do it for them. I'm not interested in a flame war or even taking cheapshots, and I'll even retract my "sour grapes" comment. Still, I suspect that as you say, Calacanis can take your comments in stride... all the way to the bank. Daniel -
Actually, I always look into the background of naysayers, particularly when they voluntarily provide links to their blogs and LinkedIn profiles.
I have no agenda, as their success or failure puts no money in my pocket. I’ve watched Mahalo for a few months though, and as much as their momentum perplexes me, the amount of ill will and negative feelings Calacanis generates is the truly astounding part. I’m not convinced that human-powered search isn’t just a hyped-up business model, but I can only come to one conclusion when I see that it’s working for the nonce, yet people insist on predicting it’s failure.

If you felt slighted by my comment, rest assured that it wasn’t as much about you as it about people in the internet business allowing their emotions to obscure the obvious facts. If people are using it and you still fail to see the need for it, then respectfully, I think your vision is limited. Useful to you? Probably not. But Mahalo users don’t need to weigh in: their sheer numbers do it for them.

I’m not interested in a flame war or even taking cheapshots, and I’ll even retract my “sour grapes” comment. Still, I suspect that as you say, Calacanis can take your comments in stride… all the way to the bank.

]]> By: Asad http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934141 Asad Tue, 22 Jan 2008 02:10:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934141 @14 Heheh @14 Heheh

]]> By: Daniel Gibbons http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934138 Daniel Gibbons Tue, 22 Jan 2008 02:07:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934138 #8 You're obviously the one with the agenda to push here given that you must have clicked from my name here to my blog to my LinkedIn profile just to come up with the cheap shot that I'm somehow out to get Mahalo. I'm sure that Jason C is more than big enough to take rational criticism in stride. #8 You’re obviously the one with the agenda to push here given that you must have clicked from my name here to my blog to my LinkedIn profile just to come up with the cheap shot that I’m somehow out to get Mahalo. I’m sure that Jason C is more than big enough to take rational criticism in stride.

]]> By: Joe T. http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934128 Joe T. Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:54:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934128 How about a site that takes bad audio from conferences and digitally clarifies it so you can understand what the hell the people are talking about? How about a site that takes bad audio from conferences and digitally clarifies it so you can understand what the hell the people are talking about?

]]> By: Some Dude named Jason C. http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934099 Some Dude named Jason C. Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:15:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934099 I don't know about compete's numbers, but not really my thing. If mahalo makes it, I'll be surprised. Most entrepreneurs are just lucky. I wish them and all startups good luck, it's a tuogh biz, and easier to guess failure considering the rate (90%) I don’t know about compete’s numbers, but not really my thing. If mahalo makes it, I’ll be surprised. Most entrepreneurs are just lucky. I wish them and all startups good luck, it’s a tuogh biz, and easier to guess failure considering the rate (90%)

]]> By: Some Dude http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934067 Some Dude Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:36:35 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934067 The real question is how they got their "webulebrity." Wales founded Wikipedia, Calacanis did Weblogs, Inc.: both are clearly capable businessmen with a proven track record and probably bank accounts to match. I don't believe that good ideas only come from successful people, but I do think it's funny when people who would trade places with those guys in a New York minute second-guess their business models. Not sure if you saw compete.com's recent breakdown of Mahalo's numbers, but I don't think they're strictly attributable to "webulebrity." Seems like sour grapes is all I'm saying. Will Wikia and Mahalo hit gold in the long run? Hard to tell, but bashing them now is certainly en vogue. Even if bashers are right in the long run, I suspect they'd love to have a *ahem* failure like Mahalo or Wikia on their resume. The real question is how they got their “webulebrity.” Wales founded Wikipedia, Calacanis did Weblogs, Inc.: both are clearly capable businessmen with a proven track record and probably bank accounts to match. I don’t believe that good ideas only come from successful people, but I do think it’s funny when people who would trade places with those guys in a New York minute second-guess their business models. Not sure if you saw compete.com’s recent breakdown of Mahalo’s numbers, but I don’t think they’re strictly attributable to “webulebrity.” Seems like sour grapes is all I’m saying.
Will Wikia and Mahalo hit gold in the long run? Hard to tell, but bashing them now is certainly en vogue. Even if bashers are right in the long run, I suspect they’d love to have a *ahem* failure like Mahalo or Wikia on their resume.

]]> By: Mike http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934065 Mike Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:33:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934065 No man on Earth could wake up next to beautiful Marisa and expect for one solitary minute that he could ever get a word in edgewise. I had no idea she was such a long winded bore! No man on Earth could wake up next to beautiful Marisa and expect for one solitary minute that he could ever get a word in edgewise.

I had no idea she was such a long winded bore!

]]> By: allen stern http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934054 allen stern Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:26:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934054 #8 - some dude - why have you heard more of mahalo or wikia search more than the other new ones? not everyone has a webulebrity running the company #8 - some dude - why have you heard more of mahalo or wikia search more than the other new ones? not everyone has a webulebrity running the company

]]> By: allen stern http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934052 allen stern Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:24:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934052 bash google, then take their traffic as 76% of inbound traffic. love it. at least Jason admitted he is a seo play: http://www.centernetworks.com/mahalo-changes-pricing-and-seo-play#comment-59654 bash google, then take their traffic as 76% of inbound traffic. love it.

at least Jason admitted he is a seo play:
http://www.centernetworks.com/.....ment-59654

]]> By: Some Dude http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934046 Some Dude Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:20:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934046 Perhaps this is extraneous, but I noticed that the people second-guessing Jason and Jimmy have startups that no one has ever heard of. I have to say, as a typical-yet-slightly-tech-savvy user of the intertubes, I'm much more likely to use Mahalo or Wikia than Lypp or Sampa. Apples and oranges, I know, but it would be a lot easier to take those opinions seriously if they were voiced by serious players and not grumpy also-rans. Perhaps this is extraneous, but I noticed that the people second-guessing Jason and Jimmy have startups that no one has ever heard of. I have to say, as a typical-yet-slightly-tech-savvy user of the intertubes, I’m much more likely to use Mahalo or Wikia than Lypp or Sampa. Apples and oranges, I know, but it would be a lot easier to take those opinions seriously if they were voiced by serious players and not grumpy also-rans.

]]> By: RS http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934042 RS Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:18:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934042 The irony is Mahalo is just one blatant SEO gambit. Jason saw how sites like Digg and Wikipedia always seem to come up near the top of Google results. Naturally he thought why not try to create a similar middleground site that does the same thing and then try to make money off the ads (ironically Google's.) The thing is, Digg and Wikipedia get their rankings organically (at least in the Google controlled world where links mean a ton) whereas Mahalo is having to be much more obvious in their SEO intent. Just take a look at their site structure and the fact that they're blatantly targeting the most popular search queries as their site's "content." It's not about helping the user. I can already find that content via the main search engines and the last thing I want is another middleground site trying to clog up the rankings. My hat's off to him for recognizing the obvious (although I don't think they're going to have much success.) But it still doesn't make all his bluster about SEO any less hypocritical. The irony is Mahalo is just one blatant SEO gambit. Jason saw how sites like Digg and Wikipedia always seem to come up near the top of Google results. Naturally he thought why not try to create a similar middleground site that does the same thing and then try to make money off the ads (ironically Google’s.) The thing is, Digg and Wikipedia get their rankings organically (at least in the Google controlled world where links mean a ton) whereas Mahalo is having to be much more obvious in their SEO intent. Just take a look at their site structure and the fact that they’re blatantly targeting the most popular search queries as their site’s “content.” It’s not about helping the user. I can already find that content via the main search engines and the last thing I want is another middleground site trying to clog up the rankings.

My hat’s off to him for recognizing the obvious (although I don’t think they’re going to have much success.) But it still doesn’t make all his bluster about SEO any less hypocritical.

]]> By: Cem http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934033 Cem Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:06:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934033 It was clearly a remarkable session. Two prominent challengers on the panel. The champion in the audience asking questions. Jeff Jarvis asking too. You participating in the discussing. All social networking entzrepreneurs listening. That was really a remarkable session, concerning the people attending. That was really awsome! I'm glad I was part of it. It was clearly a remarkable session. Two prominent challengers on the panel. The champion in the audience asking questions. Jeff Jarvis asking too. You participating in the discussing. All social networking entzrepreneurs listening. That was really a remarkable session, concerning the people attending. That was really awsome! I’m glad I was part of it.

]]> By: Marcelo Calbucci http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934032 Marcelo Calbucci Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:05:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/21/mahalo-v-wikia-search/#comment-1934032 I find the topic of "human-powered search" one of the most irrelevant and full of misconception. Let's start by saying that since late 90s, all search engines are human powered! Humans create webpages that search engine crawl and index. Humans create hyperlinks that search engines use to determine authority (even if it's a bot, it's bot programmed by a human to accelerate the speed in which things can be done), and Humans using toolbar on their browsers are sending information back to search engine to help SEs understand relevance of those links. So, what Mahalo and Wikia are trying to do is to make the part of Search Engine that is easiest to be automated, manual. It doesn't get dumber than that. I find the topic of “human-powered search” one of the most irrelevant and full of misconception.

Let’s start by saying that since late 90s, all search engines are human powered! Humans create webpages that search engine crawl and index. Humans create hyperlinks that search engines use to determine authority (even if it’s a bot, it’s bot programmed by a human to accelerate the speed in which things can be done), and Humans using toolbar on their browsers are sending information back to search engine to help SEs understand relevance of those links.

So, what Mahalo and Wikia are trying to do is to make the part of Search Engine that is easiest to be automated, manual. It doesn’t get dumber than that.

]]>