Steve Rubel posts that the creator of Microsoft SmartTags is the Sith Lord behind Google’s AutoLink Feature. [here]
His homepage is here. If you create HTML and want to tell him how you feel about AutoLink, email him here.
Seems that he specializes in recognizing linguistic and conceptual pattern in electronic documents, most likely for the purposes of identifying them in search algorithms.
C|Net News Article here.
Google is NOT evil. This feature is a great BENEFIT to consumers and web designers alike. Some points to remember:
– This is a user selected option. That means Google doesn’t automatically change ANYTHING.
– There is incredible precedent for a user being able to modify web pages to fit his/her needs. A web designer creates a page to be interpreted the way the user wants it. Basic internet browser options give users the power to change font size, background colors, image/java/activex display, transitions, fontfaces, and more. Popular add-ons extend this customizability by converting text into sound for the hearing impaired, translating websites to different languages, removing ad banners, blocking pop-ups, and adding options to contextual pop-up menus.
– The feature does NOT change any links that are currently on the page. It does NOT override a link that is already there.
– The links added to a webpage are distinguishable from the original links–the cursor displays a Google logo to let the user know this is one of the Autolinks that were requested.
– These autolinks are a convenience for the USER, not a source of profit for Google. From what I can glean from newsreports, Google is not getting money from Amazon, USPS, FedEx, UPS, or any other place they point links to. And although they do have the option to link to Google Maps, you may also have it link to other maps including the competitor Yahoo at the USER’s discretion.
Google is not doing anything to anyone’s webpage. It is simply making browsing easier for users to utilize web content by saving the “copy, paste, click search button, click result link” routine that happens countless times each day.
– This is a user selected option. That means Google doesn’t automatically change ANYTHING.- There is incredible precedent for a user being able to modify web pages to fit his/her needs. A web designer creates a page to be interpreted the way the user wants it. Basic internet browser options give users the power to change font size, background colors, image/java/activex display, transitions, fontfaces, and more. Popular add-ons extend this customizability by converting text into sound for the hearing impaired, translating websites to different languages, removing ad banners, blocking pop-ups, and adding options to contextual pop-up menus.- The feature does NOT change any links that are currently on the page. It does NOT override a link that is already there.- The links added to a webpage are distinguishable from the original links–the cursor displays a Google logo to let the user know this is one of the Autolinks that were requested.- These autolinks are a convenience for the USER, not a source of profit for Google. From what I can glean from newsreports, Google is not getting money from Amazon, USPS, FedEx, UPS, or any other place they point links to. And although they do have the option to link to Google Maps, you may also have it link to other maps including the competitor Yahoo at the USER’s discretion.Google is not doing anything to anyone’s webpage. It is simply making browsing easier for users to utilize web content by saving the “copy, paste, click search button, click result link” routine that happens countless times each day.
I’ve noticed something I call “google karma”. Dave Winer has talked about how his uncle invented the term “non-functional probabilities” …events that seem related with no apparent cause and effect linking them…
Algorithms and anchor text aside, some of the cascading effects I’ve observed in the generation of google results indicate that there may indeed be a God.
Has anyone addressed the fact that google results often produce serendipitous text? A new literary creation , so to speak. What I’m calling “God” seems to operate there.
Google ‘s sampling creates its own, brand-new commentary, sometimes to hilarious effect. This is google karma. God really does have a sense of humor.
I’ve noticed something I call “google karma”. Dave Winer has talked about how his uncle invented the term “non-functional probabilities” …events that seem related with no apparent cause and effect linking them…Algorithms and anchor text aside, some of the cascading effects I’ve observed in the generation of google results indicate that there may indeed be a God.Has anyone addressed the fact that google results often produce serendipitous text? A new literary creation , so to speak. What I’m calling “God” seems to operate there.Google ‘s sampling creates its own, brand-new commentary, sometimes to hilarious effect. This is google karma. God really does have a sense of humor.
addedum to my last comment:
I should have Googled “Google Karma ” first.
addedum to my last comment: I should have Googled “Google Karma ” first.
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