In a move to enhance its search quality, Google Inc. has bought a software product developed by an Autralian graduate student.
The software is called Orion and is created by Ori Allon, who Google also hired. This is according to company spokesman Barry Schnitt who sent out the info in an e-mailed statement. The software was created by Allon while he was a doctorate student at the University of New South Wales.
What the new software will offer in search is it will display Web site information directly without the extra step of clicking through to go to other pages. It will also have the additional service of showing search results from topics similar to the initial search, which will offer a wider selection of results. I'm not sure that this particular aspect of the software is desired. Who wants more options to have to sift through?
Google's purchase of "Orion" is a response to the growing trend of Internet search engines finding ways of answering users' questions in a more direct manner, rather than simply offering a page of links.
In certain areas I can see how this could help search and online marketing itself. The offering of extra suggestions gives more opportunity to see other results that could end in users going to other topics and areas of interest.
The biggest question I would have is if it make it more accurate and helpful or offer too many options. Once it is implimented it won't take long to find out.
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