By on March 5, 2008

Microsoft Research Shows Glimpse of New Search Products

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What’s this? Microsoft might actually be working on something innovative in search? No way!

Yes, way!

According to SeattlePI, Microsoft showed a pair of new search related products at its recent TechFest event.

One, SearchTogether, is an Internet Explorer plugin that puts a sidebar into the browser. It’s meant for collaborating on multiple computers, possibly in different locations. In the sidebar, each person can see and follow the Web searches that a friend or co-worker has conducted related to their project or common interest. It uses a Windows Live ID login.

The other, CoSearch, is designed for collaborative searching on a single computer. For example, a person using a mobile phone in the room can control a cursor on the computer screen to click on a link and transfer the result to the phone, even as the people using the PC follow a different link.

Hmm, I’m not sure I’d want to see what a co-worker searched for during their lunch break, would you? ;-)


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5 comments on “Microsoft Research Shows Glimpse of New Search Products”

  1. Search Engine Optimization Journal Says:

    March 5th, 2008 at 10:50 am

    It will be interesting to see the popularity of a product such as this. Imagine you search for something private one day…completely forgetting that this feature is enabled — quite embarrassing. A bit intrusive eh?

  2. Jayson Says:

    March 5th, 2008 at 12:00 pm

    I don’t know – this might catch on for businesses and students (high school, universities). I would find value in this right now at our company and even at my last company. This also seems like a great idea for group and team projects at universities and high schools.

    You never know, Search Together might help companies regulate the surfing employees do – good bye pointless surfing and hello productivity.

    I can’t see the CoSearch idea catching on but??

  3. Steven Bradley Says:

    March 5th, 2008 at 1:45 pm

    Collaborative searching is not for me, but I can see where it would be useful for teams working together. Of course being able to turn it off easily would be a requirement.

  4. Piper Says:

    March 6th, 2008 at 12:27 am

    While I can definitely see some useful applications of this technology, I cringe at the thought of having yet another source of incoming information.

  5. Nicole Says:

    March 6th, 2008 at 12:39 am

    Both sound useful. In case of CoSearch, would there be multiple cursors on the screen? That could get confusing.