Technobiography

Ask G? Searching

September 19th, 2005 | by ka edong |

I have discussed a lot with my brother, Elmer, and we envisioned mobile search services. Two ways we imagined it (I no longer could not distinguish which ideas are mine and which are his, thus I refer to these ideas as ours).

First is an automated search engine. The search engine allows keyword queries and replies with the most relevant mobile content available on any of the telcos menu of services.

Second is a human-back-end search engine that provides more customized replies especially to questions that do not have related and existing mobile content.

Let me give you an example. One morning, my co-teacher from Cuyo asked me where GSIS main office is. I didn’t have the info, so I sent her this:

Philippine Information Agency Gawin 1345
24-hour access to government services, connects callers to its agencies and local government units for essential information such as names, phone numbers, and office addresses of agency heads, etc.

Dial 1345 for PLDT landlines. Dial (02) 981-5000 for other mobile or land-based phones.

In our existing mobile-network, we have a peer-to-peer information network. This means that the information (indirectly) available to me is what the people in my phonebook know.

For example, if I needed to know where to stay in, say, Malaybalay, I will think of people who know about Malaybalay and look for their number in my cellphone phonebook. If don’t know anybody who knows about Malaybalay, who do I turn to?

What if there was this mega-mobile service that provides this kind of info. For a fee!

It’s like an “Ernie Baron” on mobile phones!

Putting them together, there could be a two-tiered search capability. The first search is an automated search. The second is a human search where humans provide human answers to human questions.

The main limitation is the amount of information being transferred. This will work best for questions that have very specific answers. It will also work best if the query is stated as a question.

Now, how about that SD (service description) …. Blah, I don’t bother anymore.

Ka Edong