Amy, The good news is that "search" has moved a long way toward the practical from its inception within the overall notion of Artificial Intelligence. The challenge is that the path forward went through a compile-and-retrieve stage and is still somewhat in that stage. However, among with many other ideas, it's beginning to move toward using faceted tools to collapse a set of queries across the relevant ontologies (rules) for a given domain and its detailed taxonomies (terms or jargon for domain-specific concepts). Facets represent aspects or topics of interest. Facets themselves turn out to be simply one element in a broader array of tools that leverage new work being done on advanced semantic technologies along lines that depart sharply from the social networking and tagging often associated with semantics. For example, your students of Africa can use facet-based tools to hone in on the right mix of structured and unstructured material to resolve topics of interest (a) in a domain centered on Africa, or perhaps (b) in alternative domains centered on global warming or food shortage or post-colonial political economy. Interestingly, flexible faceted tools work equally well for enterprise managers who need to take action on topics vital to their business activity or organizational purpose (which define the domains within which they have facets of interest). Additional tools can "learn" entire domains and then use persistent agents to provide preremptive alerts when anything new comes into view. This is highly relevant to support any process-based activity (again, such as running an organization as mentioned above, or running a classroom aimed at a given evolving topic, such as Africa). Other analytic tools can assess interest, intensity, and intent based on a person's interaction with any choice-based system, which some outfits--or teachers--might find valuable. You'll notice that nothing here has anything to do with a person's physical network device, although displaying results is always a practical factor. This all comes to mind because your question connected with a new hi-tech non-profit that specializes in research on advanced semantic technologies as described above. I'm a founding member. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have questions--for example, do you think Dutton may see value for you and them if your new book also discusses advanced semantic technologies as noted above, such as facet-based market access tools, etc? Best regards, David Morf Market Data Consulting Complexity, context, pattern 136 Dartmouth Street Holyoke, MA 01040 413-536-0944 (direct) 413-426-6059 (cell) davidtoday at comcast.net A founding member of the Center for Semantic Excellence www.semanticexcellence.org -----Original Message----- From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net [mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net] On Behalf Of A - Z International Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 5:02 PM To: hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net Subject: [Hidden-tech] need thoughts on future search tools for kid's book ** The author of this post was a Good Dobee. ** You too can help the group ** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area. ** If you did, we all thank you. Hi all, I've got a wonderful (I think) book coming out with Dutton next year called 2030. It's all about life in the future. The co-author is James Daly who founded Business 2.0 and works for George Lucas. We'd be really, really grateful for advice on what the bots of the future will be (circa 2030). The original text is below and the editor's suggestion (pretty much dissed) is below that. Jim thought we ought to talk about "spiders," but that's so today. Anyone out there have a thought on what search tools of the future will be like or called? This has to be something in R & D or conceptualized today. I'll try to get you an acknowledgement for your time. best, Amy Zuckerman HT Founder Here is the original text: In social studies class you are studying Africa. Your teacher asks you to find an article on your desktop computer about the people of Central Africa. By 2030 there is so much information on the web that you need a software tool called a 'bot to help find the data. 'Bots are animated computer figures that ask questions to make your data search easier. Here is my suggestion for changing it... In social studies class you are studying Africa. Your teacher asks you to find an article on your desktop computer about the people of Central Africa.By 2030,computer memory has grown so large, that all knowledge since the dawn of civilization will be available on line. Using special "thinking" software called Artificial Intelligence, the computer will not only find the answer to your question but will also try to guess what else you might need before you ask it. _______________________________________________ Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members page on the Hidden Tech Web site. http://www.hidden-tech.net/members