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Is Wolfram Alpha a Google beater?

Posted by David Walker on Mon 9 Mar 2009

Talks your language

When it comes to searching, one name is pretty much synonymous with the technology - Google. But its days as market leader could be numbered if Wolfram Alpha lives up to the hype.

Right, let's talk science. When you do a Google search, search terms entered are checked against all the documents stored on the Google servers, ranking the best at the top of the pile. Wolfram Alpha takes it a step further. Instead of just checking the words, the new pretender takes into account human language, looking at the question posed to find the best search, not just a string of words. It's called natural language processing and according to creator Stephen Wolfram, it takes web searching a considerable step forward. One expert describes the engine as a 'vast electronic brain'. We really hope that's reality, not just a figure of speech.

Want to try it out? Sadly, you'll have to wait. It launches in two months time, when we can all put this super-search engine to the test. In the meantime, check out the holding page and blog via the link below and if you ask nicely, you might even get invited to use a test version. But don't hold your breath.

Link: Wolfram Alpha (via The Guardian)
 

 

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