Today, we’ve acquired Metaweb, a company that maintains an open database of things in the world. Working together we want to improve search and make the web richer and more meaningful for everyone.
Type [barack obama birthday] in the search box and see the answer right at the top of the page. Or search for [events in San Jose] and see a list of specific events and dates. We can offer this kind of experience because we understand facts about real people and real events out in the world.
A Bit of History and a Few Examples
1) The concept of results (not only links) on results page is not new and not a Google only feature.
The idea of placing a specific answer to a query on a results page is something that every search provider has offered and continues to offer.
Ask.com's began offering (what they call "Smart Answers") to specific questions April, 2003.
Google first "Quick Links" were introduced in December, 2003 and January, 2004. Yahoo also began their program at about the same time.
Examples
+ The ability to compare basic stats of two sports teams side by side at Bing is really cool.
2) Experience is one thing but so is the accuracy and quality of the information provided.
One example. Today, Google shows that the Prime Minister of Israel is Ehud Olmehrt. However, this is WRONG and it's nothing new. The Prime Minister of Israel is Benjamin Netanyahu who has been PM for over one year, since March 31, 2009. What makes it even more interesting? is that Google cites one Wikipedia as a source for this answer. However, if you visit Wikipedia, it lists Mr. Netenyahu.
Wolfram
We would be remiss not to mention that in our view Wolfram|Alpha has taken the concept of a direct, specific answer on a results page to a new level during the past two years. The site continues to improve with new, curated and authoritative data sources. Btw, W|A has the correct answer about the PM of Israel and also shows a bunch of related info directly on the results page. For example, a list of the last few prime ministers.
Now Back to Today's News
Google's blog post goes on to discuss taking question answering to the next level.
...what about [colleges on the west coast with tuition under $30,000] or [actors over 40 who have won at least one oscar]? These are hard questions, and we’ve acquired Metaweb because we believe working together we’ll be able to provide better answers.
Interesting yes but...
To a certain degree, Wolfram|Alpha is already doing this type of work and it's most likely going to improve.
Finally, the blog post concludes with a mention of Metaweb's Freebase database.
In addition to our ideas for search, we’re also excited about the possibilities for Freebase, Metaweb’s free and open database of over 12 million things, including movies, books, TV shows, celebrities, locations, companies and more. Google and Metaweb plan to maintain Freebase as a free and open database for the world. Better yet, we plan to contribute to and further develop Freebase and would be delighted if other web companies use and contribute to the data.
Much of the same thing on the Metaweb blog post and news that Freebase will now provide daily dumps of data instead of quarterly.
Freebase and Final Thoughts
A) Freebase data has structure so it will help with database building (what about Google Base? and Google Squared?) and of course semantic web initiatives.
Here is the Freebase entry for Southwest Airlines along with the same page where you can see additional info including metadata. Finally, a third page where you can see the history of edits. While you can see some of the data comes from Wikipedia it would be an even more impressive resource if each data source was made clear and more consistency. In some cases dates and other data are provided but in the case of Southwest entry the number of employees (that could easily be found in a 10K or 10Q) is not included. As we always say with Wikipedia, what type of update schedule is there? How do you know you are getting the most current data? As the database grows larger this will be an even larger issue. Finally, you have to wonder with the new mass exposure that Freebase will now have, if spammers will be heading there or just do what they can using Wikipedia data in Freebase. This also probably means the end (if it hasn't already taken for Google Knol).
B) When you take Freebase and then add it to the powerful non-flight info technology called Needle that comes along with the ITA Software deal, you're looking at some potentially powerful possibilities to organize and present data. MUCH more about Needle in this post from last weekend (with examples).
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