Ask.com is set to launch a new search algorithm code named Edison. The new algorithm will combine Teoma and Direct Hit, two search engine technologies that Ask.com purchased a few years back, to bring about a new algorithm, Edison.
I was reviewing the social search panel where Apostolos Gerasoulis, co-founded Teoma Technologies, know own by Ask.com. Apostolos has leaked this information in that panel.
I have confirmed the existence of Edison with Jim Lanzone, the CEO of Ask.com. Jim was not able to give me any more comments or details on Edison.
So I decided to meet with Apostolos Gerasoulis this morning, and I received some more information about Edison. Here is what I got for you.
(1) Direct Hit and Teoma were the original social search engines. - Direct Hit which was purchased back in 1999 by Ask, uses click data to determine relevancy for rank. So the more clicks, the higher the click popularity, the higher a page would rank. - Teoma uses hubs and authorities to determine relevancy. In a sense, it uses the "wisdom of the crowds" to determine relevancy and show the best results they can.
(2) Apostolos explained in his presentation this morning that they will be combining the best of both Direct Hit and Teoma into one engine.
(3) Apostolos also explained that they have been tagging for three plus years. So for example, if you do a search at Ask.com, that search query you used, will be associated with the pages you click on Ask.com. So if you search on "cars" and click on the first result, the first result will be tagged as "cars" behind the scenes.
It is my understanding, the new Ask.com search algorithm, code named Edison, will consist of these three components and more.
Forum discussion at Cre8asite Forums.
Update: Ask.com issued a statement which I posted at Search Engine Land. I also wonder if it is named Edison because that is where AG lives and works.
