Web Search: Kozoru Opens Public Beta Testing Of Byoms
via Search Engine Watch Blog
See Also: Kozoru Will Release IM Answers Software
In this post we talk not only about Kozoru but numerous other choices for IM answer tools and the fact that many SMS (text message tools) offer a chat “like” experience.
The other issue that comes to mind today is how many non-geeks (at least for now) will take the time to build these tools? We will see. Will they do better than OpenSearch from A9? I also wonder about selection choices. We’re not sure how asking a question to a blog like Huffington Post would be of value.
We tried a few “factual searches” using byoms (remember, this is a beta)
+ Who won the Academy Award for Best Actor, 1972 (Database: IMDB)
Wrong answer, we received the best cinematographer award winner
+ When do the Baltimore Orioles play at home in September (Database: Ticketmaster)
No answer
+ Plays in Chicago (Database: Ticketmaster)
No answer
+ Prime Minster of Canada (Database: Wikipedia)
We received the first few sentence and a link to the entry but as far as a name, no name was provided.
+ When was Hank Aaron born (Database: Wikipedia)
Winner. Hammerin’ Hank’s bday was provided.
+ Founders of Yahoo
No mention of Mr. Yang or Mr. Filo.
Overall, promising idea but like we said last week, it will require a learning curve, intense marketing, and improved technology to play with what others are already offering and developing.
+ Finally, byom’s via Wikipedia could also benefit from a spell check. This would be extremely useful in an IM enviro.
+ Choking (Database WebMD)
Potentially useful result but the content can only be read if you have a web browser. In other words, the byom result is primarily a web link to WebMD.

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