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Question time: Hunch asks users several questions to refine their original query.
Question time: Hunch asks users several questions to refine their original query.
In addition to rating whether a result was useful, users can suggest other recommendations or improvements to surveys. New query topics can be added to a "workshop" area to be developed until users' votes indicate that they are accurate enough to be released as questions on the wider site.
John Riedl, a professor of computer science at the University of Minnesota, who studies recommendation systems and online collaboration, says that Hunch is tackling a fascinating problem, and one that academic researchers have been working on for a long time. Computers are great for creating games like 20 Questions, he says; Hunch, however, is dealing with much more amorphous problems. A single question might have dozens of possible results, and the information that a user provides may not help a computer distinguish clearly among the options.
A key issue, Riedl says, will be whether the site can build up a base of volunteers who are willing to contribute. While projects that rely on user-generated content--such as Wikipedia--represent "some of the extraordinary accomplishments of our time," Riedl says, Hunch is asking a lot of its users.
Hunch has yet to answer the question of how it could make money, but Fake says that revenue will likely come from sponsored links that appear alongside results. Or if Hunch suggests a particular brand of laptop, the site might get a referral fee if the user goes ahead and buys the device. However, Fake stresses that advertising would only appear after a result is generated and wouldn't influence the products that the site suggests.
As the site improves, Fake hopes that the results will feel increasingly intuitive, appropriate, and even a little mysterious. She says, "I want it to feel like the Magic 8 Ball experience."
Nipping at Google's heels, Bing focuses on refining product-related searches.
Our exclusive test shows how the two Web engines compare when given the same queries.
You can mask some information by throwing in a few curve balls. For example you might "ask" Hunch whom you should vote for in the next Presidential Election, and then supply a Zip Code and Area Code from another part of the country. The tools data will quickly become corrupted to the point it "may" answer your query, but further risky material on you personally gets whacked out till it becomes useless to the Marketers or Montizers.
I used to worry about businesses selling my information, and would change my first name around a little bit to see who was selling lists. I could be Mike on one susbscription, Mark on another, Mel on a third or Martin on a final one. I would also alter my middle initial too. Computers make it easier to manage data, but when all is said and done it's usually a live body making that "final" decision.
These worries are valid and the tactics are astute. Yet most folks believe that commercial, private and gov orgs are addicted to collecting your data. They will not be stymied. Net worth, sexual pref, party affiliation, convictions (got DUIs?), donations, you-name-it. I know this reeks of paranoia but in this digital era, I assume all is garnered and stored forever.
Hunch is prob better than Madam Zolta (she's NSA).
I have found wonderfully interesting paths while following a tangent of strange search results. I use advanced search when I want to get "better" results.
All it is, is an expert system tagged onto a search engine.
It appears to be asking pre-defined controlled search questions because as the previous user stated you cant be bothered to enter them yourself.
Is it so hard to go to advanced search and enter rollercoaster, Nevada.
You can also limit your searches by selecting only the name server type eg com, or co.uk, com.au or com.ru
I feel the technology is good, and may help search engine illiterate folk better, it would however slow my searches down to a crawl and i could never use it.
Manufacturing in the United States is in trouble. That's bad news not just for the country's economy but for the future of innovation.
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dtutelman
117 Comments
My alarms are going off
I read this with a really bad feeling. Well, probably more suspicious than bad.
There is major concern about how social networking sites are trying to monetize the personal data its users volunteer. ("Monetize"? I don't really like the word, but its use and meaning are apparently here to stay.) So how much more data -- and more intimate data -- will Hunch have once it has interviewed you a few times to help you make decisions? It would take a lot of convincing to get me to trust it.
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gabrielg01
450 Comments
Re: My alarms are going off
While I share your concerns, I can also say that it is rather easy to stop any invasion of your privacy.
You just have to use these sites under an alias not connected to your real persona. Yes, it takes a bit more work, but then you're not handing over your private info on a platter.
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ms
190 Comments
Re: My alarms are going off
If you answer enough questions truthfully, you can be identified. It's already been demonstrated that your anonymous search history can often identify you.
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gabrielg01
450 Comments
Re: My alarms are going off
Agreed. The more unique info you give away, the easier is to zero in on you.
However, who said you have to answer everything truthfully? You can set up decoy aspects of your online personality, which would completely skew your profile. Maybe "you" are very interested in Barbie dolls, yoga, whatever...Use your imagination.
You could also bland your profile, by adding "every man" type of information: you follow football, baseball, hockey and you drink Budweiser beer...Again, use your imagination.
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