Tech Trends

Aussies Turn Web Search Upside Down

By Mark McDonnell

Andrew Stead, of New South Innovations, is confident that Orion will fill a gap in the market highlighted by Microsoft chairman Bill Gates. “Gates was recently quoted in Forbes magazine as saying that we need to take search way beyond how people think of it today. We believe that Orion will do that,” he said.


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Australian researchers have patented a method of exploring the Web that they claim could revolutionize existing search engines.

Developed by Ori Allon, a 26 year-old PhD student from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the Orion search engine is designed to complement searches conducted on services such as Google , Yahoo  or MSN  Search.

Allon explained that conventional search engines find pages in which keywords occur and that sometimes these pages are important to the topic, but at other times are not.

Orion is designed to find pages where the content is about a topic strongly related to the keyword. It then returns a section of the page, and lists other topics related to the keyword so that the user can pick the most relevant.

“The results to the query are displayed immediately in the form of expanded text extracts giving you the relevant information without having to go the Web site, although you still have that option if you wish,” said Allon.

“By displaying results to other associated keywords directly related to your search topic, you gain additional pertinent information that you might not have originally conceived, thus offering an expert search without having an expert’s knowledge.”

Allon cited a search on the topic of the American Revolution as an example of how the system works.

Orion is designed to bring up results with extracts containing this phrase, but it would also give results for American History, George Washington, American Revolutionary War, Declaration of Independence, Boston Tea Party and more.

Andrew Stead, of New South Innovations, the technology transfer company within UNSW, is confident that Orion will fill a gap in the market highlighted by Microsoft chairman Bill Gates.

“Gates was recently quoted in Forbes magazine as saying that we need to take search way beyond how people think of it today. We believe that Orion will do that,” he said.

Allon claimed that some big companies have already shown interest in implementing Orion for commercial use.bers.

Mark McDonnell

Mark McDonnell is a seasoned technology writer with over 10 years of experience covering a wide range of tech topics, including tech trends, network security, cloud computing, CRM systems, and more. With a strong background in IT and a passion for staying ahead of industry developments, Mark delivers in-depth, well-researched articles that provide valuable insights for businesses and tech enthusiasts alike. His work has been featured in leading tech publications, and he continuously works to stay at the forefront of innovation, ensuring readers receive the most accurate and actionable information. Mark holds a degree in Computer Science and multiple certifications in cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure, and he is committed to producing content that reflects the highest standards of expertise and trustworthiness.

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