Hello Dave..... what are we searching for this evening?

Imagine if you could yell at your search results? Ok, I mean you probably have done that, but what if it actually had an effect? Or what if I was pleased with a set of search results and the search engine used my contentment as a ranking signal for further search refinement? What a cool deal that would be…

Sure, it’s late at night and I have an unhealthy addiction with personalization and user engagement signals, but hear me out.

Among the endless haystacks in my feed feeder I happened upon an interesting needle relating to a patent that Microsoft has been said to have filed and could be granted within a year. It is said to be a big brother style software that can remotely monitor galvanic responses. Which could include;

• heart rate
• body temperature
• movement
• facial expression
• blood pressure.

While this is nothing entirely new, it has in the past been limited to professions such as firefighters and pilots. What is new is having it in such settings such as the office environment. The system can automatically detect frustration or stress from the computer user and potentially offer the appropriate assistance… wow, it’s the Hal 9000 (eeek). The system would also have demograhic information about the user to further develop a profile.

Its OK Dave… do not be alarmed.

Conversions, Cookies and Bad Actors too!

A while ago I came across some poignant questions that were posed to Google by US Senator Joe Barton mostly in regards to Privacy concerns. What was of particular interest to this wandering web Gypsy was that much of it had to do with user data collection which is a favourite of mine in the form of User Performance Metrics. It seems we have some answers...yipeeeee….

Unfortunately, much of the detailed response is what one might expect as far as any real actionable goodies that we can all get excited about. What I do take way from this is the reality that such metrics are indeed being collected and used to enhance both personalized search and regular index search services. The responses are also interesting for what it doesn’t say.

Without further ado… here’s what I took away from it.

So have you tired yet of this Web Gypsy’s ranting about Google, user performance metrics and personalized search? I sure hope not because I came across something that I simply had to tell you! I just think that this is completely on par with what I have been ranting about the last 6 weeks.

If you go back on this journey and recount how I was rambling incessantly about the proliferation of new Google platforms and applications would likely see an increase in Google accounts, and ultimately Personalized Search. So did you think I was merely blowing smoke up your backside? Did you start fitting me for a Tin Foil hat and a new sport coat with arms that attach in the back?

Well then my friend; Say hello to Google Profiles (more on GoogleSystem and TechCrunch)

I can TOTALLY see this happening. Mind you, I do imagine that some where there are some Open Social developers just dreaming up ways to make Google one big Social Network for business and personal. What is certain is that the reality of a broader more ubiquitous Google account user base is certainly on the horizon.

And Speaking of Personalized Search

It's My Data and I'll Hide if I want to

It's pretty late at the moment, but I was just thinking about some recent site development strategies I have been implementing and why exactly, I am going about things the way I am. And so why not walk together right? I thought so.... let's go this way...

 Much of it revolves around Google Web services and the potential ramifications they may have to a site used prematurely or recklessly. What do I mean by prematurely? Bear with me a little longer and I shall enhance the picture for you. To start with let’s look at a few common tools and incursions that the average webmaster may employ.

You know the types; Google SiteMap - Google Analytics - Google Site Search - Google AdSense

Each of them has the ability to digest a great deal of information about your site and the actions of users on a page by page or site wide (global) basis depending on the implementation and tools being used. Add to that the myriad of other bots that come to your page, (indexing, filtering, spam bots, etc...) . a search engine can begin to build a clearer image of an over-all perceived value of your page(s) statistically, far better than they could without such additional data. I don’t bloody care what anyone says; there is an inherent risk in giving away any type of performance metrics from your site…. So what to do?  This is where I look to the systemic fauna that grows out from this conundrum. In short, what's the easiest way to account for this potential problem without breaking a sweat?

Puzzle Pieces - the 3Ms