Jatalla, the first Web search engine to deliver 100% user-generated
relevance rankings, has been made available today in prototype form at
www.jatalla.com. Unlike conventional search engines, which rely upon
automated webcrawlers and computer analysis, Jatalla provides search
results derived from rankings performed by actual, living human beings.
Through Jatalla, any World Wide Web user can cast a "lexivote",
which consists of two parts: (i) a word or phrase and (ii) at least one
URL. Thereafter, when a search query is submitted, all lexivotes
matching the search query are counted, and associated URLs are ranked
according to the number of lexivotes they receive.
"All the
text and image evaluation algorithms are executed in people’s heads,"
commented a company representative. "And in that way, the lexivote
methodology fulfills some of the Web's longest-standing but previously
untapped potential. Jatalla is –- and is only -- as good as people make
it."
Drawing upon the collective intelligence of an entire
planet’s human minds, Jatalla.com has -- at least in theory --
exponentially more processing power than any other search engine. But
the creators of the site are the first to admit that their biggest
challenge is to grab those first few users.
"We hope that
Jatalla will one day serve as an easy way to interview the whole world
through a single search query," the company representative continued.
"But right now, we've got to focus on early adopters, especially those
who believe that humans are still smarter than computers."
Toward
that end, the Jatalla prototype is quite simple, providing only core
functions, like search and lexivote submission. However, the Jatalla
support blog, hosted by WordPress, indicates that more complex features
will arrive when formal launch takes place. Nonetheless, visitors find
the simplicity of the site refreshing, particularly the absence of
advertisements and other clutter.
Announcement of the lexivote
ranking methodology in June, 2006, created an international buzz within
the industry. But the new prototype represents the first time that
anyone has gotten to test drive a lexivote-based search engine.
People
who would like to try the new paradigm in search technology can visit
http://www.jatalla.com and begin casting their own lexivotes.
