What should blog What should blog search look like?search look like?

Marti Hearst, Matt Hurst, Sue Marti Hearst, Matt Hurst, Sue DumaisDumais

What does it What does it currently look like?currently look like?

What Are Blog Searchers’ What Are Blog Searchers’ Goals?Goals?

► Log study by Mishne & de Rijke 2006Log study by Mishne & de Rijke 2006 500 randomly chosen queries from blog search 500 randomly chosen queries from blog search

engineengine► Main findings:Main findings:

Searches on named entities (52%)Searches on named entities (52%)►Mainly looking for current discussionMainly looking for current discussion

Searches on high-level topics (25%)Searches on high-level topics (25%) The rest:The rest:

►Navigational queries Navigational queries ►Adult queriesAdult queries►OtherOther

► Queries differed significantly from web search Queries differed significantly from web search queries issued during the same time period.queries issued during the same time period.

Search Goals Distinct to Search Goals Distinct to Blogs?Blogs?

►Like news, in that it is currentLike news, in that it is current►But different, in that it is personalBut different, in that it is personal►So … finding opinions and thoughts on So … finding opinions and thoughts on

current events is a major goalcurrent events is a major goal►But … may also want to look this up But … may also want to look this up

after the fact.after the fact. Sopranos exampleSopranos example

So what should blog So what should blog search look like in search look like in

future?future?

Blog Usage, Status is Blog Usage, Status is EvolvingEvolving

►Blogging is a new form of publishingBlogging is a new form of publishing There is a lot of serious, useful material There is a lot of serious, useful material

therethere Much of it isn’t critically chronologicalMuch of it isn’t critically chronological

►How to build XHow to build X►What to consider when YWhat to consider when Y

► Idea: Convert blogs into useful, Idea: Convert blogs into useful, readable, searchable archivesreadable, searchable archives Sopranos example againSopranos example again

Goal: Finding Good Blogs to Goal: Finding Good Blogs to ReadRead

►Blogs have personality and styleBlogs have personality and style We should be able to search on that.We should be able to search on that. Blogs about divorce that are:Blogs about divorce that are:

►Serious (how to choose a lawyer)Serious (how to choose a lawyer)►Sympathetic (people who feel my pain)Sympathetic (people who feel my pain)►Humorous (wry commentary)Humorous (wry commentary)

Goal: Finding Good Blogs to Goal: Finding Good Blogs to ReadRead

►Blogs are about many topicsBlogs are about many topics► Idea: Faceted navigation onIdea: Faceted navigation on

PeoplePeople TopicTopic StyleStyle

Another IdeaAnother Idea

►Match on the reader’s styleMatch on the reader’s style In terms of what they write or what they In terms of what they write or what they

readread Essentially collaborative filtering for blog Essentially collaborative filtering for blog

findingfinding

Thank you.Thank you.