socialmedian: Semantic Search Engine Gets Help from Facebook Friends

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Semantic Search Engine Gets Help from Facebook Friends

Source: readwriteweb

Jun 23, 2009

Summary

Perhaps the biggest problem with natural language search is that it's incredibly difficult to try and automate machine-assigned ontologies. Essentially, machines just don't get it.

This is precisely the reason why Canadian technologist Bruce Johnson switched his focus from semantic tagging to a new style of search. Says Johnson, "Machines don't really deconstruct language well. They miss so many of the ambiguities and they often don't pick up on synonyms." As a result, Johnson's Semanti was built in the belief that humans are best at determining search relevancy. ReadWriteWeb spoke to Johnson, about how his start up, differs from some of the semantic web's more-recognized players like Hakia and Powerset.

Most semantic search services are natural language search engines; however, Semanti employs a system of personal bookmarks, a drop-down menu with multiple definitions, and search recommendations pulled from Facebook friends. Semanti actually increases relevancy by introducing human eyes and opinions into the search process.

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