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My keynote address at the Enterprise Search Summit 2011 in New York. Over the past 15 years, search got smart and we got lazy. Today, few remember what a Boolean operator is, much less hot to use one. But who really cares? When a search engine vomits thousands of results to any inane query we make, misspell, or misquote, we pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. And if we don't like these results, well, it's the search engine's fault. Perhaps we'd better create som intelligent searchers instead. It is time that we bring search users' experience expectation together with tools that will actually help them search smarter to deliver a truly intelligent search experience.
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The dumbing down ofintelligent search
Eric Reiss@elreiss
Enterprise SearchMay 10, 2011
New York, NY
”Smart Search” you jerk!
The dumbing down ofintelligent search
Eric Reiss@elreiss
Enterprise SearchMay 10, 2011
New York, NY
Waddaya mean? Who’s dumb?
What’s this stupid sign all about?
We’re gonna nailyou on Twitter!
solve the problem!
Screw the app…
Three quotes…
“If people can’t figure out how to useyour search engine, maybe you needa search engine that’s figured out howpeople think.”
A philosophy
“Search engines are the receptionistsof cyberspace – and like the real world,there are good ones and bad ones.”
A metaphor
“Are visitors getting as much out of yoursite as you put into it? According toindustry analysts, probably not – athird will leave before they find what they came to get. So much for ‘returnon investment.’”
A statistic
Let’s continue on an upbeat note...
The Death of George Boole
1815 - 1864
Three quotes…
Sept. 1998
A timeline…
Gopher
‘91 ‘93
Mosaic
You arehere
2011
Yahoo!
‘95
‘98
MondoSearchbrochure
Maybe it’s time we started singinga different song…
It’s not that what we say is wrong,it’s just not working. We need toteach by example.
Just sayin’… #1
The three faces of enterprise search
Algorithm Implementation Use
OH “It must be true. It was on Google.”
People learn skills in one environmentthat they expect to be able to use inother, similar environments.
Just sayin’… #2
But even Google doesn’t alwaysget it right…
Helmuth Graf von Moltke – 1800-1891
“No battle plancan survivecontact withthe enemy”
algorithms
The joys ofenterprise searchWe control the environment
We can move beyond pattern matching
We can create custom-tailored UX
Don’t ignore that man behind the curtain
We make the magic. No one else.
The fatal flaw is to ignore thespirit of the task.
Just sayin’… #3
People
Processes
Technologies
Well…
If only the damned content providerswould supply us with meta-descriptions…
Ah! Ultimately…
it must be the fault ofthose idiot users…
Laurence J. Peter – 1919-1990
“The problem withmaking things foolproof is thatfools are so damned ingenious!”
“I’m looking for a pair of red,patent-leather, peep-toe pumpswith a medium heel and a strap.”
What the search test subject says:
red shoes
What the search test subject types:
If you can do something on Google,but you can’t do the same thing on your own site, find out why and fix it.
This is a business imperative if yourely on benefits from the long tail.
Just sayin’… #4
Any idiot can enable bad behavior.The trick is to encourage good behavior.
This is the difference betweenmere “design” and “good design”.
Just sayin’…#5
Too many enterprise search engines are still configured by engineers.
But this only works if your dev teamunderstands the language of your business. Do they?
Just sayin’…#6
Algorithm Implementation Use
The French built this…
…without power tools!
A good craftsman never blames his tools.
A sharp knife will help a master chef dohis job better. But buying a sharp knifewill not make you a master chef.
Just sayin’…#7
Some thoughts for algorithm-buildersUntil you learn to read minds, there will be nomagic bulletJust because you can, doesn’t mean you shouldHey CMS folks – make it easier to addmetadata!Singing the praises of technology is not goingto get businesses to sit up and take notice.
Some thoughts for implementersIf you don’t understand the business, youshouldn’t be tampering with searchContent providers need to understand search(so what else is new?)Matching patterns isn’t matching needsYou control the environment. Use this power to truly enhance the experience. This is hard-coreUX!
Some thoughts for usersGarbage in, garbage out“Error 40”Be critical. Demand quality. Speak up.Don’t be afraid to experiment. You can’t breaka search engine.Learn some basic search techniques
Use phrasesUse multiple wordsWrite query as an answer rather than a question
Five questions
What’s the date of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address?
What’s the key ingredient in bearnaise sauce?
What’s the most fuel-efficient car in the world?
When did Daniel Defoe write “Moll Flanders”?
How many stripes does a zebra have?
Your mission, Mr. Phelps…Stop making excuses for bad searchGo to your kid’s school and teach the classabout searchHas anybody bothered to build the business case for search in your company?Don’t wait for someone else to do the heavy lifting! You’re here in NYC at Enterprise Search. You ARE the vanguard!
Don’t just prevent bad thingsfrom happening…
Please, make wonderful things happen!
Thank you!
Eric Reiss can (usually) be found at:The FatDUX Group ApSStrandøre 152100 CopenhagenDenmark
Office: (+45) 39 29 67 77Mobil: (+45) 20 12 88 44Twitter: @elreissinfo@fatdux.comwww.fatdux.com
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