ON GOOGLE SLOW BOILING PERSONALIZED SEARCH

SUBTLE SHIFTS

Official announcement from Google on a subtle but potentially very big change in how it's users experience Search around the world.  Here's the relevant excerpt:

"Today, we're taking another step toward making personalization more available to you by combining these two into a single signed-in experience. Now, when you're signed in, you'll have access to a personalized Google—one that combines personalized search results and a personalized homepage.

Keep in mind that personalization is subtle—at first you may not notice any difference. But over time, as the search engine learns your preferences, you'll see it."

What's interesting about this is it's beyond "subtle".  The user doesn't have to do anything to get the "new, improved" Google Search.  It just happens if you're logged in as a registered user.

Brings to mind the old story of how best to boil a frog...do it slowly.

Another example this brings to mind is how mainstream consumers in the US were introduced to fluoride by public authorities.  As this Wikipedia entry notes:

"Water fluoridation is the practice of adding fluoride compounds to water with the intended purpose of reducing tooth decay in the general population.

Many North American and Australian municipalities fluoridate their water supplies in the belief that this practice will reduce tooth decay at a low cost. Currently 66% of United States residents on public water supplies have fluoridated water.^[1]"

For many of us, Google Search is as essential as water in a day-to-day lives.  Hopefully personalized search is as good for us as fluoride in our water.

Comments

[NYSCOF]

You used a very bad analogy. Fluoride in the water is very bad for you.

for more info

Fluoridation 101
http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof

Fluoridation News Releases
http://tinyurl.com/6kqtu

Tooth Decay Crises in Fluoridated Areas
http://www.fluoridenews.blogspot.com/

Fluoride Action Network http://www.FluorideAction.Net

Fluoride Journal http://www.FluorideResearch.Org

[Michael Parekh]

NYSCOF,

That's exactly why I used the analogy. As the Wikipedia article I linked to, notes, there is a fair bit of controversy over the use of fluoride in water.

I just as thought the analogy was apt because there is likely to be similar discussion, pro and con, about Google's efforts to add personalization to search.

Thanks for the comment and links.

[Dave]

see http://devshots.com

google’s private cool site