Archive for February, 2008

Web search engine Quintura has introduced a tag cloud to its search results allowing users to see associated terms. Interesting this allows the user to excude terms that are not relevant to their search easily quickly reducing the number of results and increasing the relevance.

The search seems to be a bit hit and miss currently. Sometimes when I excluded words I thought had nothing to do with my search sites I thought highly relevant disappeared. However, the functionality is interesting and allows the user to easy search by excluding irrelivant content filtering results.

Stanford University has released another cool tool on their site. This time it allows you to create a three dimensional model from a single photograph.

It uses machine learning techniques to recognise 3-d structures, such as the slope of mountains or branches of trees. Apparently, it can take a bit of time to generate the models. You can create models with your own photographs and learn more at Make 3D.

ICANN has recently proposed measures designed to try and stop domain tasting.  As currently customers can get a full refund if they cancel within five days some companies purchase domains in order to see how many hits they get then return those that perform poorly.  Domains that perform well  will have adverts placed on them.  This practice reduces the available domains and results in the best performing addresses being snatched by sites only featuring google ads.  ICANN plans to introduce a registration fee small enough that is should only deter those cancelling a large number of registered domains.  The measures should also deter the practice of front running where disreputable domain registration companies purchase domains entered by their customers in order to see if the perform well.  Full details can be read here. Google leads, ICANN follows: domain tasters can now eat dirt