PowerPoint Presentation

Returning search to its rootsa short presentation on the implications of hyperlocal search engine technologiesMy name is Miljenko Williams When asked to define what I do, I tend to say blogger, proofreader and language trainerBut I think what I really like to do is (maybe) waste my time, wondering how technologies could truly empower ordinary people and communitiesReturning search to its roots

Ever since hunter-gatherer times, search has been a highly prized skillset.

Productive.

Local.

Tasty, even.

But in particular, involving considerable degrees of intelligence, imagination, intuition and creativity.

Returning search to its roots

In the beginning, search was good ...

Well, maybe not that good.

I must admit I don't remember Altavista like this.

Google's spoiled us, I guess.In 1998, search was better ...

As we can see ...Though even in 2001, search RESULTS looked like this!

So have they turned us into truffle-finding pigs working for them more than us?Alternatively, maybe, a case of rose-tinted search on my part?Or do we need to make search work more for us? Can we take back control?Check this out ...

We have 12 search results in the first view of a standard-sized laptop monitor.

Logged in, using my search history, 9 search results are advertisements from around the country and only three are organic results: ie there on their own merits.

Curiously, none is from Chester, even though Google knows I live there (I actually didn't expect that).

Anyone got a mobile phone?

:-) Go, logged in, to your Google, type in food banks and see what result you get.

What do you get?Now compare with chester.one ...

Using Google's very own customised search, customised around Chester and the surrounding area, the same search keywords food banks produce very different results.

Implications?

Anyone any ideas?

Well here's a few I've had over the past few months ...

Possible implications of something like chester.one (I)Instead of an atomised, individualised, unshareable search, which may also already be serving to atomise community, we create a search environment which produces exactly the same results for every single person who accesses the data!

Possible implications of something like chester.one (II)A shareable search means:we can create communitywe can both develop society-wide self-perceptions better and control what the outside world sees, says, believes and asks of uswe can build and implement hyperlocal attitudes and behaviours more quickly

Possible implications of something like chester.one (III)A shareable search ultimately means:we can even begin to own the narrativecommunicate our stories without fear of often powerful global interventionsunderstand ourselves better, sooner and more accuratelydefine our own needs, stories and trajectories before others do so on our behalfin essence, empower hyperlocal

How to take back control of hyperlocal-impacting search and information (I)Customise your very own search engineInclude only the URLs that describe your community accurately, fairly and productivelyAlways be open about inclusion criteriaBe proactive, resilient and community-minded in your goals

How to take back control of hyperlocal-impacting search and information (II)But remember: hyperlocal search does not have to be an anti-global, anti-big biz strategy

First and foremost:

it allows you to assertively define your community on its own termsat the same time as providing a window for the outside world to understand you much better; much faster; and much more efficiently

Images used in this presentationSlide 6, courtesy of https://www.flickr.com/photos/searchengineland/2905581056/Screenshots of chester.one search and of google.co.uk search using Miljenko Williams' search history, courtesy of the latter userAll other images, courtesy of Wikipedia CommonsReturning search to its roots

And that's the end of the presentation. But defo not the end of hyperlocal search!

Many thanks for being out there.

Cheers.