Wikia Search Arrives Online: A Look at Wikia Search and Wikia the "Hub" Site
UPDATE: We need to be a bit clearer. We are looking at both Wikia Search and Wikia.com, two separate sites with two separate search tools.
It's always exciting when a new search engine comes online and today is one of those days with the release of the Wikia web search engine.
Opening Overview
It's really hard to say that much since we haven't had much time to use it. Wikia did not offer ResourceShelf preview access but the bottom line is ONLY TIME WILL TELL the power Wikia gains as a search tool which of course will be based at least in part on the quality of results (and related features) it offers users.
Of course, searching the web is not only about delivering results. That's easy. There is a lot of content out there but also how are the results:
+ Relevance vs. search terms (not easy to do given many factors including people reverse engineering the system*** and trying to manipulate).
+ Organization of results
+ Scope of results
+ Privacy and Security Issues (Wikia discusses these issues here)
+ "Value added" features, Advanced search features
++++ Related materials in a single location (Google Universe, Yahoo OneSearch, Ask 3D, etc.)
+ Reputation(s) of source(s)
+ Other traditional database and web search metrics
Again, today is only day one (it's essential to stress this point) for Wikia Web Search so it's really difficult to judge what the service will be like in 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and/or a year from today.
It's also important to remember that no one search engine is perfect or ideal for every search. At ResourceShelf, we're about using the right engine or database at the right time and often using more than just to double or triple check what you find.
Wikimedia juggernaut co-founder*, Jimmy Wales, was on the $$$ when he told NPR in 2006 to take what you find in Wikipedia with a, "grain of salt". This is the case with many search tools (including Wikia, other databases, and even books) and why using more than one resource is a good idea. Think journalist.
When we have written about Wikipedia and other volunteer efforts we have asked will:
+ How social? Will people stay involved or will they move on to the next big thing? True, Wikia is a commercial venture but from we can see TODAY, a great deal of the original content comes from volunteers like Wikipedia offers.
+ Will outside sources*** try to manipulate content and how results appear? If so, will the wisdom of crowds know best? This is an issue for all search engines.***
+ Will people know about and use this product?
* The other co-founder of Wikipedia, Larry Sanger, left Wikipedia and now leads another organization and online knowledge tool named Citizendium.
*** This is not a good or bad thing but the way it works. So, get used to it. That said, a little bit of training and education can go a long way (minutes and hours NOT days and months and semesters) into making a better searcher.
While info pros look at web search as a research tool (like Dialog, LexisNexis, Factiva, and others), many look at it as another "form" of research and better said, marketing. They want their results at the top. Period. Most people don't look beyond result number 5 or 6 and for sure not past the first ten.
Before offering a brief look at Wikia Web Search as of today, here are a few related posts.
There is NO search box on the Wikia home page as of today, just a link to Wikia Search. That page is found here.
It's an early release. Note the word alpha in the URL. Kudos to Wikia for being upfront about this. To learn more you'll need to create and account and learn more. To search, just enter your search terms.
To work on editing, commenting, and being a part of the community, you'll need to register. It's free.
Results. Fast Facts (aka what we're seeing as of 9am EST).
Registered users can discuss each and every results page.
+ Some results will have Mini Articles. We ran 20 searches (common terms) and did not find any as of today.
+ Pages are cached locally.
+ Results are not numbered.
+ Next to each result is the Nutch (what powers Wikia Search) score that links to a page for the specific result and for the search term. For the most part, this will be of interest to only the search geek or info scientist. Of course, SEO's might also find it very useful.
+ We were unable to quickly find an adult "safesearch filter" and did find adult content by just entering search terms. Of course, third party filters will block some of this content but remember, like web search NOTHING is perfect especially filters. No filter will get it all be it from a web engine or third party.
+ No paid listings/sponsored links on results pages as of today.
+ A search for Star Trek
+++ A mini result (no result for Star Trek is listed)
+++ Results with cache and Nutch scores along with the ability to vote (1-4 stars for each result, not working at the moment).
+++ Ability to use search than one index (Four indices are available testing)
+++ Community: People who have expressed an interest in Star Trek
+++ Community: Registered users have many options (privacy settings) dealing with who sees or doesn't see what you write or images you post.
+++ 10 results per page. To see more results just click. Each set of results is kept on the page. So clicking a few times you create a single page with 30 or 40 results.
What kind of searches does Nutch support? (quoted, nested, truncation, wildcarding [and where], Boolean)
"...." (phrase search?), + (what is this for?), - (negation) and fieldname:term. No "AND" or "OR". The and-logic is implied.
We are not going to comment on the quality of the results today. Let's give them 4-6 weeks and see how they look then compared to what we see today. We will be taking some screen caps today.
Since we're writing on Wikia itself today, let's take a look at what resources these sites provide.
For Wikia Search (what's getting all of the attention today, that's posted above).
Please, Let's Not Forget Numerous EXCELLENT non-commercial directories and databases of information (both general and subject specific) are out there being built and maintained by info pros and scholars. They are unfortunately often overlooked. We don't want to overlook them today. A few examples include:
The Wikia Site and Databases (not Wikia Search)
It's important to remember that Wikia itself has been around for some time (approx. 2004) as a place where people could build and host topical wiki's. You'll see them organized on a new homepage by category. More about Wikia the wiki production and hosting site here.
Under each category are wiki's on specific topics. For example, Finance includes:
++ Entrepreneur
++ Investment
++ Shopping
Of course, just like Wikipedia these pages can be edited by registered members (free). After spending a bit of time browsing the site, Wikia seems to be especially strong in pop-culture topics. Again, don't forget to review what you can find in some of the non-commercial directories listed above.
Back to Wikia.com
So, let's start from the homepage and select Health.
Now, look in the upper right hand corner for a search box with the terms "Search Wikia" in it.
There you go. Enter your terms and your're underway.
Now, let's look at a result page where you will find four sets of results.
+ This Wiki (if you are searching a specific wiki or hub
+ All Wikia
+ Wikipedia (uses Google Custom Search)***
+ The Web (results from all over the web, using Google Custom Search)
*** Avi Rappaport pointed out this page from Google noting issues with Google Custom Search using more than 3 domains and how the results might not be complete.
Now, with the major caveats, that:
+ This is day one
+ Running a few test searches is really not the best way to test an engine
+ Results may vary
+ Since the quality of the results will vary from person to person, you be the judge.
Let's review what you see when you search Wikia for a few items. Let's start with:
This Wiki
No results. If we were searching for an info tech or wiki about computing we might find some results.
All Wikia
Result #1 is in Spanish, Result #2 is in German, and Result #3 is from a satirical wiki.
Overall, it was a challenge to find even a brief English language bio.
Wikipedia via Google Custom Search
Result #1, a Wikipedia page about Ballmer (what you would expect in this spot)
Result #2, a Wikipedia entry titled "Dance Monkeyboy"
Result #3, a Wikipedia entry titled "Team OS/2"
Web Results via Google Custom Search
Result #1, Same Wikipedia page that's number one in the Wikipedia tab
Result #2, a YouTube video titled, Steve Ballmer Going Crazy
Result #3, His official MSFT Bio
Pakistan
Again, the 4 tabbed view since their is no specific Wikia for this topic. We also noticed that a search for "Pakistan Politics" a phrase returns zero items in the This Wiki and All Wikia tabs. The same is true for other phrases and names.
We were also unable to find any spelling correction or suggestions in some cases. Note the incorrect spelling of Star Trekk vs.
Star Trek or Chicago vs. Chiccago. Again, this is day one so perhaps this it's coming soon?
Review and Questions
+ We were surprised not to spot a search box on the home page.
+ The way the web results look today is likely not the way they will appear over time. Of course, all engines are constantly tweaking and tuning their algorithm plus always growing their databases. So, this is nothing new. What is new is that the masses will be able to participate in one way or another.
Wales' approach would open that [algortithm details] process. Initially, participants will help make such decisions as whether a site on "Paris Hilton" refers to the celebrity or a French hotel.
+ As of today, the Wikipedia and The Web Search Tab produce results powered by Google Custom Searches. Again, as we pointed out earlier***, Google documents "issues" with using more than 3 URL's in a custom search. Perhaps, the actual search engine Wikia uses is still in development?
+ Will people use it (the web search + the Wikia search) in the first place and also participate in making the results better? Are the masses looking for more to do or just want good results. Period.
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