Microsoft Uses Human Computing Game To Tune Bing

Al writes "Microsoft researchers have come up with a novel way to fine-tune the algorithms behind the company's new search engine, Bing: a game that harnesses human computing power to improve the results. Called Page Hunt, the game (which of course requires Silverlight to run) shows users a web page and asks them to figure out a search query that should produce the page within the first five results. The idea is to better understand user behavior and expectations and ultimately improve its search algorithms. Other human-computing projects have sought to digitize out-of-print text (reCAPTCHA) and image labeling (Google Image Labeler). Can Microsoft use a similar approach to gain the edge over its rival? Or does Google already have the edge with SearchWiki, which lets searchers re-rank its results?"

Looks like fun

[Brian Gordon]

After the success of Page Hunt, Microsoft is developing a sequel called File Reports. Players earn points by filling out real business forms and increasing productivity!

Should write a program to play it

[Erelas]

That'll put a spoke in their wheel.

Re:Looks like fun

[Anonymous Coward]

Apple has a game too. It's called Jobs for Jobs. You buy a mac and then give Steve a metaphorical blowjob on message boards about how awesome his products are.

Wait for it...

[Snarkalicious]

This must be the beta. I don't see mention of a monthly charge, yet.

Gee, but...

[Chris Pimlott]

I sure hope no one tells 4chan about this.

fail?

[postmortem]

In other words, Microsoft service does not have solution. Microsoft asks users to provide results for themselves...

Re:Finally...

[A. B3ttik]

Don't worry, I'll sabotage them by tagging all of the scatplay and goatse pictures with things like "Cute Lesbian Teens" or "Vista Troubleshoot Help."

Silverlight, no thanks

[thetoadwarrior]

I've got better things to do with my time than to do MS' job for them while having to install Silverlight at the same time.

Though without Silverlight, it may have been fun to come up with search queries for innocent things that involve gay animal sex, clown shoes and old people's inability to control their bowels.

Re:Looks like fun

[jank1887]

yeah, well the jerk store called. they're running out of you.

Show of hands ...

[jamesl]

Or does Google already have the edge with SearchWiki, which lets searchers re-rank its results.

Anybody who has used SearchWiki to re-rank Google results, hold you hand up. Up high. Keep 'em up. Anyone? I didn't think so.

Re:So you're anchoring the algorithm...

[The Wooden Badger]

4chan, or a bunch of Microsoft haters that would pretty much never use Bing anyway. I can't think of anywhere that a bunch of Microsoft haters hang out on the interwebs. It definitely wouldn't happen on slashdot.

Re:So you're anchoring the algorithm...

[freyyr890]

Congratulations. You just invented the bing bomb.