Creativity for Search Vendors
December 18, 2016
If you scan the marketing collateral from now defunct search giants like Convera, DR LINK, Fulcrum Technologies or similar extinct beasties, you will notice a similarity of features and functions. Let’s face it. Search and retrieval has been stuck in the mud for decades. Some wizards point to the revolution of voice search, emoji based queries, and smart software which knows what you want before you know you need some information.
Typing key words, indexing systems which add concept labels, and shouting at a mobile phone whilst standing between cars on a speeding train returns semi-useful links to what amount to homework: Open link, scan for needed info, close link, and do it again.
Eureka, California is easy to find. Get inspired.
Now there is a solution to search and content processing vendors’ inability to be creative. These methods appear to fuel the fanciful flights of fancy emanating from predictive analytics, Big Data, and semantic search companies.
Navigate to “8 Tried-and-Tested Ways to Unlock Your Creativity.” Now you too can emulate the breakthroughs, insights, and juxtapositions of Leonardo, Einstein, Mozart, and, of course, Facebook’s design team.
Let’s take a look at these 10 ideas.
- Set up a moodboard. I have zero idea what a moodboard is. I am not sure it would fit into the work methods of Beethoven. He seemed a bit volatile and prone to “bad” moods.
- Talk it out. That’s a great idea for companies engaged in classified projects for nation states. Why not have those conversations in a coffee shop or better yet on an airplane with strangers sitting cheek by jowl.
- Brainstorming. My recollectioin of brainstorming is that it can be fun, but without one person who doesn’t get with the program, the “ideas” are often like recycled plastic bottles. Not always, of course. But the donuts can be a motivator.
- Mindmapping. Yep, diagrams. These are helpful, particularly when equations are included for the home economics and failed webmasters who wrangle a job at a search or cotnent processing vendor. What’s that pitchfork looking thing mean?
- Doodling. Works great. The use of paper and pencils is popular. One can use a Microsoft Surface or a giant iPad thing. Profilers and psychologists enjoy doodles. Venture capitalists who invested in a search and content processing company often sketch some what dark images.
- Music. Forget that Mozart and fighter pilot stuff. Go for Gregorian chants, heavy metal, and mindfulness tunes. Here in Harrod’s Creek, we love Muzak featuring the Whites and John Lomax.
- Lucid dreaming. This idea is popular among some of the visionaries working at high profile Sillycon Valley companies. Loon balloons, solar powered Internet aircraft, and trips to Mars. Apply that thinking to search and what do you get? Tay, search by sketch, and smart maps which identify pizza joints.
- Imagine what a great innovator would do. That works. People sitting on a sofa playing a video game can innovate between button pushes.
Why are search and cotnent processing vendors more creative? Now these folks can go in new directions armed with these tips and the same eight or nine algorithms in wide use. Peak search? Not by a country mile.
Stephen E Arnold, December 18, 2016
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