X-Message-Number: 30214 References: <> From: Kennita Watson <> Subject: Re: search engines Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 06:10:25 -0800 Robert Ettinger wrote: > But _Pell_ (http://www.barneypell.com/archives/2006/10/ > powerset_and_na.html) > lays out a convincing argument that natural language search is > important in > order to communicate meaning and intent. He uses example searches > to make his > point - book for children , book by children , and > book about children > are all equivalent to book children to search engines > today. His core > argument is that there may be no way for us to properly express > the query > books by children without using natural language. That argument appears to be wrong. "book for children", "book by children", and "book about children", (with double quotes, I'm not sure what was used in Robert's text) which require not natural language but elementary knowledge of the semantics of the search engine, give very different results. "Give me a hard one" :-) . (Actually, the hits returned from that one could offer some amusement....) Live long and prosper, Kennita -- Register Republican NOW so you can vote for Ron Paul in the primary (http://www.fec.gov/votregis/vr.shtml) then switch back. Also, go to RonPaulBlimp.com -- you could win a ride! Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=30214