Microsoft and Experimental Search
February 25, 2009
Microsoft has a massive research and development operation. I learned in Industry Standard here that Microsoft will roll out an “experimental search site called Viveri.” The idea, said Industry Standard, is “to allow the company’s researchers to easily roll [sic] out new search ideas.” For me, the most interesting comment in the write up was:
One technology aims to better deliver search results from vertical search engines. When a user types a search item into the field, a typical list of results pops up. But on the right hand side of the screen several boxes appear. Each box contains results from within a specific domain that is relevant to the search term. The domain could be, for instance, Amazon.com, Craigslist, Consumer Reports or WebMD, depending on relevancy.
The “containerized” interface is a growing trend. These assisted navigation interfaces can be of significant benefit. However, some usability tests in which I have been involved suggest that most users are confused about what’s in a container and how the information differs from information elsewhere on the page. I look forward to giving Viveri a try. Microsoft needs to leap frog Google. Maybe “several boxes” will do the trick? Maybe not?
Stephen Arnold, February 25, 2009
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