Week Two - Navigating the web

Part 1 - Navigation


a) What are the four (4) main points Michael Rappa makes about search? Please write them on your blog page. 


1. People rarely use or know to use tags special characters to define the enhance their query, thus displaying a less accurate result.


2. Search engine is a database made up of urls, associated key words, text and or images. It is compiled through each search engine's own mechanism and is only an approximation of all the countless information on the web. It is nearly impossible to collect and compile all of the information on the internet due to the exponential growth and the information stored in servers and database that forbid the search engine's access to it.


Some search engines used human to gather and categorize the urls, however this has proven as a time consuming and complex process. So now most search site relies on auto-collection mechanism. For example Google-bot which "crawls" website for the required information. 


3. The preferred and the most widely used search protocol from search are natural language, which is similar to the questions one would ask an expert who knows the answer.


4. Search engines use algorithms rank the millions of links from a single search to provide the user with the most useful information.


Source: Rappa M. (2005). Navigating the Web [MP3]. Retrieved on March 9, 2012 from: http://digitalenterprise.org/podcasts/navigation.mp3


b) Watch or read the Marissa Mayer interview. Marissa says 'search is in its infancy'. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? What is your personal experience with search? There are no right or wrong answers here, I just want your opinion.


I definitely agree with the comment regarding search is in its infancy. It has come a long way since the very first search engine in terms of search speed, indexing and result optimization. However the principle behind how it display search results as a bunch of links and users needs to then click into the link in order assess themselves if it the right result they wanted has remained the same. Currently search engine still acts as a middle layer that semi-connect the user and the information they needed. I believe search engine need to be smarter in grouping of results and display them in a coherent and logical response to the search query, not just hundred of pages of links. User don't want and don't need millions of links from a single search query. They just want their query to be answered.


Current search engine for most part lacks the understanding of the user's intention and the situation. For example the current query of "How to tie a knot" will elicit the same response irrespective of who is search this query. People such as rock climber, ship crews, people who likes knitting may all use this search string but expecting totally different response. In the current state they are all likely to receive the same answer from the Search Engine. Search engines should also utilize the smart sensor network in providing user with useful information. For example if user search the travel time between Point A - point B, it should take into account of the Smart sensor which can calculate the real-time travelling time. Also using the range of smart sensors, if the person searched the above query while he is on the trains. The train line travelling time should then be included in the result.


Source: Arrington M. (2009). Marissa Mayer On Charlie Rose: The Future Of Google, Future Of Search. Retrieved on March 9, 2012 from: http://techcrunch.com/2009/03/06/marissa-mayer-on-charlie-rose-the-future-of-google


Part 2 - History of the Internet


a) So what are the 6 webs?




1. The Near Web: the Internet that you see everyday through a computer screen.
2. The Here Web: the Internet that is always accessible where ever you go through the mobile devices that you carry, for example through a smart phone or tablet.
3. The Far Web: the Internet you see when you sit in front of a big screen, the distance between you and the screen is further hence the far screen and method of interaction is different, for example in front a television.
4. The Weird Web: the Internet you access through smart and intelligent system that knows how to interpret your intentions through your body, for example hand gestures, body position and voices. The system then translate those interpretations into instructions  in access the Internet.
5. B2B: the Internet which is not aimed at consumption or creation of content by people, but rather purely machine to machine interactions between big businesses.
6. D2D: the Internet which uses network of smart sensors to understand and communicate environmental and situation information. The information gained from such sensor networks can be used for example to adjusting urban systems for maximum efficiency.


Source: Joy B. (2005). The Six Webs: 10 years On. Retrieved on March 11, 2011 from: http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/324


b) Could there be more?


I believe the short answer is yes, however dependent on the time frame. Technology changes over time, and will eventually breaks down traditionally school of thoughts such as this.


One example is the new Google glass, where it use a transparent LCD or AMOLED display to put information in front of your eyeballs. At first glance it is part of the here web, however user will be able to scroll and click on information by tilting your head and have voice command /input which is the characteristics of the weird web. It also relies on the D2D web using its sensors such as camera and GPS to be location aware and communicate to other smart sensor to provide information such as traffic status, public transportation status, weather, humidity...etc.


I believe with the convergence and the advancement of technology some of the 6 webs will combine and the distinction between them will become blurred.


c) What does it mean for business?


Business should view the 6 webs as different area to engage in their customers or areas where they can achieve operational efficiency. They need to understand the current and future Internet technology & trends; and overlay it with 6 webs to identify areas of differentiation opportunities. Businesses need to undertake continuous improvement and innovations to remain engaged in the ways that their consumers are using the web. This is because technology and Internet usage trend is consistently changing, such is raise of the smart phone in recent years fundamentally altered the ways which individuals access the Internet. Company needs to respond to their customers usage trends, for example by developing mobile apps that leverage the Internet ability of the Smart phones. 


Also technology innovations allows competitors to redefine the market place and industry, so business needs to not only aware of the consumer trends but also the competitors' actions. This further highlight the need for company to continuously prepared for changes if they want to remain competitive. For example Internet through the big screen (TV) is seen as the next big thing after mobile devices. As such companies are all scrambling to introduce their version of the Far Web. Google is pushing their android based TV user environment, while Apple are consistently upgrading their version. TV companies such as Sony and Samsung are all also pushing their own versions.