Another Thrust at Lexis and Westlaw
September 7, 2010
A thrust is not a akinakes in the liver, but “Bootstrapping Band of Brothers Raise $30M for People Search Engine Inflection” is more than shaking a finger at Lexis and Westlaw. The article describes two brothers who want to provide legal eagles with for fee services. Among those planned are for fee searching of public records. Others range from feet on the street who dash around delivering documents necessary for legal matters to for fee searching. The Lexis and Westlaw duo face a number of challenges. The legal profession is faced with clients who won’t spend at pre-crash levels. Junior attorneys are losing their jobs or getting partial pay and vacation days. Recent graduates are filing claims against the law schools that recruited them and painted a glorious picture of the job market for graduates. What this means is that Lexis and Westlaw have to find a way to generate growth and deal with upstarts with $30 million. Google’s approach had promise but like many Math Club ideas, execution has been less scintillating than the ideation process. Government entities continue to crank out content with more and more becoming available online. Will Inflection become the next big thing? The idea seems interesting, but I think it is likely that Lexis or Westlaw will just buy the outfit. That approach may be easier than revamping the dinosaur-like business models that worked when lawyers were flying high. Now eagles have landed, just in a run down area outside of Piscataway. In the parking lot are the Inflection folks, and they are armed and dangerous.
Stephen E Arnold, September 7, 2010
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Jetwick Twitter Search
September 6, 2010
Peter Karich on DZone “Twitter Search Jetwick – Powered by Wicket and Solr,” where he narrates his experiences with creation of ‘Jetwick’ provides some insight into the steps required to create a Twitter search. He noted, “From a quick-start project to production many if not all things can change.”
The article recounts the task to create a similar-user finding service ‘Jetwick’ on Twitter based on their tweeted content, whose prototype was created only within a week. It needed some extra tweaking and switching to Solr for facets, which was done in a couple of hours. However, user trials highlighted need of changes in the layout that was achieved by switching to another web UI, taking a couple of days. Then, the rectification process of a problem with Db4 took about a week, finally needing to switch to Hibernate that took another couple of weeks. However, as Twitter released a similar service, the base concept of Jetwick had to be changed from user-search to a regular tweet search. The final production changed considerably. We found this a useful case example.
Leena Singh, September 6, 2010
Context Search: The New Hot Thing?
September 6, 2010
Traditionally there is a search box, which accepts the submission of a query, and subsequently presents a set of results to a user. Now the search box is not enough. The recent eyefortravel.com news article “Understanding How Search Is Moving beyond the Traditional Search Box” reveals how comScore intends to use “Explicit Core Search,” helping users “to completely change or refine their search directly from the result page.”
The concept relates to “the context of the browsing experience as the user engages with non-search content.” Therefore, the search engines are now designed to weave into the user experience, and provide “contextual searches.” This search is used as a powerful contextual content discovery technology, enabling search engines to provide intuitive and convenient content discovery experiences. As per the news, “by providing search results on context across their network, those sites are able to leverage the size of their audience to expose more users to their search services,” thus experiencing the future of search.
Sounds like beyond search to us.
Leena Singh, September 6, 2010
Arnold For-Fee Columns for September 2010
September 5, 2010
Here’s the line up of for-fee columns I did for September 2010. The information in these writings does not appear in this blog. You can navigate to the source publications online or to the hard copies of the publication for the stories. In the case of Enterprise Technology Management, you may have to register to gain access to the write ups. Keep in mind that the for-fee work is more serious and fact-rich than the content in my Beyond Search Web log. Due to the agreements I sign for these for-fee writings.
Here’s the run down for my for fee August 2010 columns. These will appear over the next four to 12 weeks. Each for-fee publication has a different editorial cycle.
- Information Today, “Voice Search: Beam Me Up, Scotty” The focus is on the hope focused on voice search as the next big thing.
- Information World Review (Bizmedia), Summer Time Blues is a look at the changes I noted among selected search vendors between May 1, 2010 and August 31, 2010. The IWR was to be online only in 2010 but this story will appear in a special print edition of the publication in a couple of months.
- KMWorld, “Google in the Enterprise: Are Caution Lights Flashing?” The topic is the impact of Google’s legal troubles.
- Smart Business Network, “Facebook Advertising: The Friend Approach” The article explains the benefits of using the Facebook platform to reach prospects. The story will appear in SBN’s dozen print publications.
I also wrote a story about open source search. It will appear in a consulting firm’s client publication.
The full text of these articles is available directly from the publisher. Every five or six years, I gather up out-of-date columns and put them on ArnoldIT.com. Best bet to get these write ups, then, is to contact the publisher who buys certain rights from me.
What’s interesting to me is that I find in my newsreader azurini writings that use the content of some of my for-fee writings but overlook a credit line or footnote. My 7th-grade teacher would not have been happy. The 66 year old goose does not care. He creates this content; imitation and all that.
Stephen E Arnold, September 5, 2010
Freebie but I get paid to write these for fee thingies.
aklaver@enterpriseimi.com
Disturbing Description of Google
September 4, 2010
This item could be categorized under “CEOs And Their Scary Ideas.” We get a look at Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s dystopian view of the future in an article at gawker.com. “Google’s CEO Has Scary Ideas For Children” outlines an odd idea. According to the article, “he predicts, apparently seriously, that every young person one day will be entitled automatically to change his or her name on reaching adulthood in order to disown youthful frolics stored on their friends’ social media sights…” Can this be true? The article expresses concerns about society as a whole not fully understanding what happens when everything is available, knowable, and recorded by everyone all the time. That’s definitely a valid concern. If you need a name-change at the end of childhood, how do you escape your sins as an adult? Not all indiscretions are youthful. I recall that the top Googler was annoyed at one Web news outfit for writing about Mr. Schmidt using information publicly available via Google. Hmmm. Two sets of rules? Do these “fluid rules” apply to individuals who write about liaisons and those about whom one writes? Maybe the rules are situational? Logical, Capt. Kirk.
Stephen E Arnold, September 4, 2010
Consultants Face the Lash and Backlash
September 4, 2010
Okay, a person gets RIF’ed. Or one gets nuked. Or one gets rationalized. What does one do? One can mail résumés, work on your LinkedIn postings, make phone calls, or become a consultant. Not much is required except printing a business card, creating a free Web page on Weebly.com, and posting to social sites.
Fortunately, as an addled goose, I am unqualified for modern day consulting. Geese in general and this goose in particular is suited to paddling around the pond or making like Jackson Pollock with a car hood as my canvas. However, lots of folks are hanging up their shingle and chasing billable hours.
There are quite a few prospects out there in the present business jungle. A charity’s supporters don’t stuff money in envelopes. Government bean counters kill a program. A company’s profits crater. So, wise managers, accustomed to getting a pay check every two weeks, hire a management consultant to access the situation and recommend solutions.
Here’s a news flash. Instead of growing the company, the consultant’s recommendations backfire, and the outfit the consultant advises enters a death spiral, maybe declaring bankruptcy or selling at a bargain price like mismatched shoes at Carnival Shoe Store, the buy one, get a pair free outfit down the hollow.
Sound familiar? In an article titled “Management Consultancy Scam” the news site nation.com expounds on a fascinating study conducted by the Cranfield School of Management. The article says that “just 36 percent” were happy with the consultant’s results. The strategies pushed by these consultancies are in fact disastrous and hasten the collapse of a company or service.
When folks who depend on a paycheck lose their exoskeleton, what are they supposed to do? Mow grass? Install electric fences? Paint houses? Nope, consult. A feedback loop of sort emerges, don’t you think? Everyone knows how to search. How tough can it be to be a search expert? Trivial for sure. I am “real” certain.
Stephen E Arnold, September 4, 2010
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Internet Brownout?
September 3, 2010
Perhaps it is the summer heat in Harrod’s Creek? Maybe it is careless or poorly trained workers? Maybe it is stray bullets from avid squirrel hunters. Internet connectivity in rural Kentucky has been lousy. I may not be alone in this de-connected space for much longer.
There’s growing congestion on one of America’s highways, and reports say the problem will only get worse. In the past few years, America’s technological network has gone from hare to tortoise. Seekingalpha.com explores this issue in its article titled “Traffic Jam On The Information Superhighway”. The article says “one of the main causes of the congestion is the exponential growth of smartphones,” and the iPhone 4G “uses hundreds of times more network capacity than older phones.”
The article see the global build out as a huge investment opportunity. Much of the problem is yet to come–as more people in the developing world join the broadband and mobile communities, immense strains will be placed on the global network over the next few years. We’ll be watching this story closely if the cable television signal stabilizes. Tough to surf or be a couch French fry when the pipes are not working. Grrrr.
Stephen E Arnold, September 3, 2010
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Open Source At The Smithsonian
September 3, 2010
Resource shelf.com received several emails from people wondering about the technology used to power the Smithsonian’s popular Collection Center catalog. A new article titled “What Search Technology Is The Smithsonian Collection Search Center Catalog Using?” answers that question. The article says, “Bottom line. It was built using open-source technology.”
The museum needed a system capable of supporting a wide range of documents and objects. In the end, the Smithsonian selected open-source Lucene/Solr indexing software for the project, which has given the Smithsonian a flexible and scalable indexing environment. The Smithsonian has also enhanced their online display by programming in a Java environment.
This is a major coup for open-source SOLR/Lucene software. We’ll be paying close attention. As budget pressures increase for certain types of organizations, open source search solutions may be getting more attention. With search vendors morphing into the great marketing hyperbole dimension, Lucene/Solr may be the down to earth solution that fills a void. If you want to download a Lucene/Solr system, navigate to Lucid Imagination.
Stephen E Arnold, September 3, 2010
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Study May Zap Content King App Fantasy
September 3, 2010
The addled goose is the first to quack about lousy research. In his 66 years, the goose has seen, participated in creating, reading, and analyzing research reports. Some from the blue chip outfits meet rigorous standards. Others, usually from the azurini, would have earned a D or F when I did a short bout of teaching when I worked as a teaching assistant.
Now the former English teachers who work in azure chip consulting firms get testy when I point out that the studies often use weird methods for creating a sample, lack meaningful analyses, and offer sci-fi type conclusions. That’s okay. I know that research methods are mostly great fun, and the tidal wave of studies make clear the truth in old saws about statistics; for example: “Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable.” For folks who don’t know what to do with their work time, studies fill up the gaps.
Nevertheless, I want to point to a study. Yep, I know it’s risky. Point your browser at “Study: Music, Not Apps, Rules iTunes.” Here’s the key passage from the azure chip outfit which produces data on activities that I find mostly inscrutable:
Software apps, which enable iPhone and iPod Touch users to do everything from play games to keep track of their weight, continue to grow in popularity but music is “still central to the iTunes experience,” according to a survey from research firm, The NPD Group. NPD says in contrast with years past, “when every dollar spent at iTunes was on music and video,” apps are now vying for a chunk of that money.
Who can get nervous about this type of statement? Certainly not the goose. The write up does not provide too much data which I find interesting. And the notion that applications for mobile devices like the iPhone and iPod Touch are “vying” for a piece of the action. With a sample of 3,800, it’s clear that “free” is a plus and that where money is concerned, folks buy music.
Why mention this music – Apps issue?
Some publishers may still see the iPad and related devices as a way to get to dry land from the waves in the Great Lake of Red Ink. My take on the research summary is that free is good, music seems to open billfolds and wallets, and Apps are in the race. Will the ponies who place third win the big race? And search. Not in the race it seems. My hunch is that third place horses are long shots. Just my opinion.
Stephen E Arnold, September 3, 2010
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Advanced Analytics and Search
September 3, 2010
In a recent meeting, a vice president with some basic technology knowledge asked, “How do I know anything unless I have some metrics?”
Good question. Quite a few folks find that getting reports about Web traffic provide the definitive method of figuring out what’s what on the Internet. Of course, when one digs into Web traffic there remains some mushiness, but, hey, for those who can use a mobile phone and an ATM, any metrics are better than no metrics.
No surprise, then, that advanced analytics is the talk of the analytics community on the Internet, and the companies are curious and excited about it. It utilizes sophisticated techniques to understand patterns and predict outcomes. The recent IT-analysis.com blog post “Five Requirements for Advanced Analytics” announces the need to develop skills for advanced analytics, being different from the business analytics in use presently.
This article feeds the analytics frenzy: “[Analytics] includes complex techniques such as statistical modeling, machine learning, linear programming, mathematics, and even natural language processing (on the unstructured side)”.
The five essential skills for the business users mentioned are; understanding the data in its entirety, appreciating data quality issues, knowing the questions to ask, getting proper training on the tools use, and thoroughly knowing the output analysis so you can defend it. Search is now more just a list of results, and we wonder if the search wizards can deliver useful information without understanding how a script can tally some clicks, and clever souls find ways to spoof the Google.
Enter search engine optimization: The Analytics Gang, Wanted Dead or Alive, Social or Outcast. Reward.
Leena Singh, September 3, 2010
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