Comments on: Ms Dewey – Lessons in how NOT to design a search engine, brought to you by Microsoft http://www.disambiguity.com/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/ Observing, reflecting, designing. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:14:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: dan mirante http://www.disambiguity.com/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-62735 dan mirante Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:11:39 +0000 http://www.disambiguity.com/2006/10/21/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/#comment-62735 Its just an experiment... I don't think they were aiming for anything other than an exploration of the technology and the medium. Its obviously aimed as a niche piece... Its just an experiment… I don’t think they were aiming for anything other than an exploration of the technology and the medium. Its obviously aimed as a niche piece…

]]> By: leisa.reichelt http://www.disambiguity.com/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-25478 leisa.reichelt Sun, 22 Jul 2007 07:24:11 +0000 http://www.disambiguity.com/2006/10/21/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/#comment-25478 she's a search engine, Donald - so I think she's got some functional responsibilities in that area. I'd have no problem if she was a search engine that worked reasonably well AND was entertaining. Although, I don't think I'm directly in the target audience for this kind of entertainment. she’s a search engine, Donald – so I think she’s got some functional responsibilities in that area.

I’d have no problem if she was a search engine that worked reasonably well AND was entertaining. Although, I don’t think I’m directly in the target audience for this kind of entertainment.

]]> By: Donald http://www.disambiguity.com/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-25457 Donald Sun, 22 Jul 2007 01:38:12 +0000 http://www.disambiguity.com/2006/10/21/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/#comment-25457 I like Ms. Dewey. The interactive part is far from perfect but, you have to start somewhere. People get a life, she is for entertainment. Can you do any better? I like Ms. Dewey. The interactive part is far from perfect but, you have to start somewhere. People get a life, she is for entertainment. Can you do any better?

]]> By: David http://www.disambiguity.com/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-6876 David Fri, 03 Nov 2006 22:01:58 +0000 http://www.disambiguity.com/2006/10/21/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/#comment-6876 It's certainly different!! I went fot the conversational approach, but the search engine worked fine but gave me different results to the MSN Search. (yes, I was sad and checked it). Some improvements are needed (Speed, sassy attitude, display of results), and it is probably just a 'fad' but interesting and different is good. Shame people don't like change though... It’s certainly different!! I went fot the conversational approach, but the search engine worked fine but gave me different results to the MSN Search. (yes, I was sad and checked it).

Some improvements are needed (Speed, sassy attitude, display of results), and it is probably just a ‘fad’ but interesting and different is good. Shame people don’t like change though…

]]> By: Cheryl http://www.disambiguity.com/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-6860 Cheryl Wed, 01 Nov 2006 22:08:12 +0000 http://www.disambiguity.com/2006/10/21/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/#comment-6860 ahhh I hated the scrolling in the results - I did a search and had about 20,000 results, but they only showed 3 or 4 at a time, so I had to scroll through. I like that they tried to be different and "rethink search" but when I do a search it's for a specific purpose, I want to find something. If I want to be entertained, I'll do it another time. ahhh I hated the scrolling in the results – I did a search and had about 20,000 results, but they only showed 3 or 4 at a time, so I had to scroll through.

I like that they tried to be different and “rethink search” but when I do a search it’s for a specific purpose, I want to find something. If I want to be entertained, I’ll do it another time.

]]> By: leisa.reichelt http://www.disambiguity.com/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-6857 leisa.reichelt Wed, 01 Nov 2006 17:24:27 +0000 http://www.disambiguity.com/2006/10/21/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/#comment-6857 I finally got some search results out of Ms Dewey today... what do we think of the scrolling in the search results? I quite like it! (See!... I'm not a <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.mynameiskate.ca/2006/11/ms_dewey_can_yo.html">curmudgeon criticising because I don't like innovation!</a>) If it was my site I'd have the URL as links as well as the title for each results... it's weird seeing a URL and not being able to click it! The Easter Eggs in this site have also generated a whole lot of blogging/searching interest... so it's a great example of effectively using easter eggs to create intrigue and possibly even some kind of community. The best list of Easter Eggs that I found is <a target="_blank" title="Digg - Ms Dewey" href="http://digg.com/design/MsDewey_com_New_Interactive_Flash_Search_Engine">on Digg (of course)</a> I finally got some search results out of Ms Dewey today… what do we think of the scrolling in the search results? I quite like it!

(See!… I’m not a curmudgeon criticising because I don’t like innovation!)

If it was my site I’d have the URL as links as well as the title for each results… it’s weird seeing a URL and not being able to click it!

The Easter Eggs in this site have also generated a whole lot of blogging/searching interest… so it’s a great example of effectively using easter eggs to create intrigue and possibly even some kind of community.

The best list of Easter Eggs that I found is on Digg (of course)

]]> By: leisa.reichelt http://www.disambiguity.com/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-6852 leisa.reichelt Tue, 31 Oct 2006 09:14:20 +0000 http://www.disambiguity.com/2006/10/21/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/#comment-6852 yep, that's exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about Cheryl. Who needs to be hounded by a search engine - AT THE WRONG TIME! (if there's ever a good time to be hounded by and pouted at by a search engine... I'm not sure) yep, that’s exactly the kind of thing I’m talking about Cheryl. Who needs to be hounded by a search engine – AT THE WRONG TIME! (if there’s ever a good time to be hounded by and pouted at by a search engine… I’m not sure)

]]> By: Cheryl http://www.disambiguity.com/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-6851 Cheryl Tue, 31 Oct 2006 05:35:52 +0000 http://www.disambiguity.com/2006/10/21/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/#comment-6851 Hey I see what you mean - it took over a minute to load from a work connection, then about 55 seconds to actually do a search. Then when I was scrolling through the search results, she kept tapping the screen and rolling her eyes and saying "C'mon, type something here" and getting pissed off cos I was reading results. I couldn't wait to leave the site! What a terrible user experience. Hey I see what you mean – it took over a minute to load from a work connection, then about 55 seconds to actually do a search. Then when I was scrolling through the search results, she kept tapping the screen and rolling her eyes and saying “C’mon, type something here” and getting pissed off cos I was reading results.

I couldn’t wait to leave the site! What a terrible user experience.

]]> By: leisa.reichelt http://www.disambiguity.com/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-6840 leisa.reichelt Mon, 30 Oct 2006 09:02:14 +0000 http://www.disambiguity.com/2006/10/21/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/#comment-6840 hey Pakeha, If I'd have just said 'I don't like it' then I think your point would be fair... and as I said, I'm really keen to explore new ways of approaching search - in fact, I'd say it's one of my special interests. But there is no point positively supporting something that, by my estimation, is just heading completely down the wrong path in terms of supporting seaching tasks for users AND which is also potentially insulting for a significant proportion of the internet audience. I'm disappointed that this project wasn't thought through more thoroughly, not that they tried something new and different. hey Pakeha,

If I’d have just said ‘I don’t like it’ then I think your point would be fair… and as I said, I’m really keen to explore new ways of approaching search – in fact, I’d say it’s one of my special interests.

But there is no point positively supporting something that, by my estimation, is just heading completely down the wrong path in terms of supporting seaching tasks for users AND which is also potentially insulting for a significant proportion of the internet audience.

I’m disappointed that this project wasn’t thought through more thoroughly, not that they tried something new and different.

]]> By: pakeha http://www.disambiguity.com/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-6837 pakeha Mon, 30 Oct 2006 00:24:43 +0000 http://www.disambiguity.com/2006/10/21/ms-dewey-lessons-in-how-not-to-design-a-search-engine-brought-to-you-by-microsoft/#comment-6837 Why is it when something different is tried the Tech Press/commentators provide only negative feed back? because it is easier that working and thinking? Shame Why is it when something different is tried the Tech Press/commentators provide only negative feed back?
because it is easier that working and thinking?
Shame

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