Holding Thumbs for Cha Cha

by Damian Burke

Do you ever sit staring at the blinking cursor of a search engine, not quite knowing what you’re looking for, let alone how to approach it?

A week or two ago I was looking for the name of an invention, but had no idea how to start searching for it. After asking a few people in the office, Carlos mentioned a new search engine he’d been toying around with.

Cha Cha is one of the so called “new breed” of search engines. Although the concept is not new, Cha Cha is the first big social search engine, and uses a combination of Boolean and human logic. One half of the site is your everyday search engine providing all you’d expect from an engine. The other half of the engine is manned by a collection of “Guides”, with whom you can chat live and logically explain your query.

As much as I like the idea, I’ve used the service three times now, and have yet to receive a conclusion on either of my searches. In all three cases I offered as much extra information as possible as we got ‘chatting’.

The name of the personal human transporter which was invented a few years ago. The guide knew what I was talking about, but eventually just disappeared before giving me an answer. I remembered the name Segway in a dream a few days later.
A tougher challenge: Why does an automatic kettle not switch off if the lid is ajar? After about 10 to 15 minutes the guide sent me a pdf of the owners manual for some European kettle, which I studied thinking the answer would be inside. I’m still curious.
The name of an internet marketing company in Cape Town, South Africa. I continued to offer hints like, “I think it starts with a 'Q’”, “They have offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town and London”. The results started came in, but none that started with the letter Q. I offered more hints, and eventually left after the results started duplicating.

I was really excited when I first heard about Cha Cha. I often do some pretty obscure searches that need that human touch, and think it’s a great idea. Perhaps I asked three tricky ones? Either way, here’s to the success of Cha Cha, and the evolution of a service which I think will be great once the kinks are ironed out.

2007/07/13 | permalink | comments (4) | trackbacks (0)

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Recent Comments

Anthony on The Democratic Alliance's Online Plan

Thanks for the article Kat, and you were spot-on in response to Shaun: my resources comment was not so much about being able to afford an online presence (most political parties in SA - all the ones you've heard of - have one); it was more about the fact that you need to have the human resources to sustain what you initiate. As an example, we started SA Today in response to ANC Today, and we've sustained it week in and week out (as has the ANC, even if its President has decided not to continue where his predecessor left off). Both the ID and the IFP have started similar initiatives, but they find it difficult to sustain, so it ends up being occasional, rather than weekly.
In response to Nic, providing strong principled opposition and defence of the constitution is a key part of the DA's brand, and one of the key things our supporters and potential supporters want from us. But the second important thing potential DA voters want (most important for many) is for us to offer solutions to the country's problems. We do that through a comprehensive policy platform which is effectively a manifesto of what we undertake to do if elected to government. That doesn't mean we don't recognise the enormity of the challenge ahead of us.
Kat on Can You Put the eMarketing Textbook in the Hands of Someone Who Needs It?

@Hilary, you can actually already order a hard copy directly from the website, just follow this link www.quirk.biz/emarketingtextbook/buy
we'll definitely let you know when it's in book shops as well though :)
@mike Less tree killing is always a good idea. The cd idea is intriguing, and would probably be great for people who have limited connectivity but are keen to learn.
Hilary Cross on Can You Put the eMarketing Textbook in the Hands of Someone Who Needs It?

Hi Kat, please let us know when the hard copy is out, I'd definatley like to purchase one for myself.
Thanks,
Hilary
Mike Metelerkamp on Can You Put the eMarketing Textbook in the Hands of Someone Who Needs It?

Kat, this is proving to be quite a mind bender...
How about creating those mini cd's and trying to get them inserted into some marketing/business/IT text books - or give them to universities to hand out in lectures?
Really cheap and less tree killing :)
Mike
Kat on Friday Fact Box - Social Media Statistics

We do a Friday Fact Box every week, so check back for more useful info, and let me know if there's a particular topic you'd be interested in getting some stats about. ;)

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Holding Thumbs for Cha Cha

by Damian Burke

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