Google holes

interesting article on Slate

[Namaste]

see: [slate.msn.com...]

[cabbie]

Namaste Namaste.
We have had this link before(possibly in another forum).
I searched Google yesterday for a map of Java (indonesia)and only 1 crude result out of the first 20.
All the rest were about java computer language and java script.
But when I search for map Java Indonesia I get relevant results.You have to be specific thats all.
The example given in the article about flowers is the same.If the guy had of seached for growing tips for tulips he would have got relevant results.
People are too hard on Google IMHO and expect them to be mind readers.I reckon they do a pretty good job at even doing that.

[chiyo]

absolutely correct. the article did not even reach Slates sometimes poor standards.

Of course if you search for java, the Se will come up with results for where that term is interconnected and mentioned. There are far more mentions of java in terms of programming, and maybe more as a slang for coffee than that beautiful island in Indonesia.

Java Indonesia
Map of Java
Java customs
Javanese culture
Java tourism

I sometimes wonder why Slate employs some writers with the intelligence of a 5 year old. To spin properly, you do have to have SOME credibility..

[GrinninGordon]

Not to mention it is Jawa not Java Indonesia.

[chiyo]

Well we call it java indonesia from where we come from ;)

Actually the author does make a good response to the comments on his article at the bottom of the page, which clarified what he mant much better than his original article. With a publisher like MSN, I am sure MSN would love to spin that google is just as commercially tainted as them!

[rfgdxm1]

The reason why Java the programming language for websites totally dominates is because this is a search of the World Wide Web. Duh. And, take a wild guess what comes up #1 for "Apple?"

[SlowMove]

Google should probably try to better educate users on searches for Java, Apples, etc.

The New York Times seems kind of arrogant. I'd rather read the blogs.

[vitaplease]

Any surfer who's been around for a while knows your search needs to be more specific and that you need to fool around with multiple words.

Google should offer query expansion suggestion if a searcher searches with one word:

Apple [s.teoma.com] (the refine suggestions on the right)

And maybe they should sometimes just recognise that its usefull to double-check with an encyclopedia/dictionary to correct the algo for too much web-relatedness:

Java [labs.google.com] (no suggestion of the Indonesian Island)

[IITian]

>The New York Times seems kind of arrogant. I'd rather read the blogs.

NYT is the voice of establishment. Thanks to Google I have been able to find alternate sources of news and opinions and I haven't gone back.

[cabbie]

Perhaps they could take a leaf from Vivisimo.com who give you different clusters for the same word so searching for map of Java they will offer choices of java language or Java,Indonesia

[moltar]

Author just showed that he has no idea how to use SE. Thats all...

[Namaste]

It might be a good idea for Google to present a kind of Thesaraus showing various combinations...many other SEs do this...with Teoma being the most effective...I find it helpful in some cases

[copongcopong]

I think the author need to know how to use search engine on the web. If you are looking something specific on the web, why not type related words there or even try how the senior citizens uses them like:

i like to know how to grow apples

as your query.