Grokker search idea

I have been very impressed by the ideas that grokker.com has implemented in there search. I admit that the search is very slow and hasn't been perfected, but the cluster idea where the user can narrow the search criteria is great. It won't rely on the algorithm to guess what subcategories the user wants to see.

Will this be the future of search?

It will change the SEO idea of number one results because there will now be multiple directions a user can go based on their specified criteria.

Side note: The search results are based on Yahoo! search.

The number one thing we all have to remember:

The average surfer is lazy and expects or wants immediate and accurate results without continually refining their query.

The above being true: Cluster search ain't going to give you that. This is why the likes of G would like to track the search history of a searcher and try to devine what they are looking for through an analysis of past searches by the individual searcher.

When you say Google tries to personalize the search based on past searches, are you meaning everyone will get different results?

Let's say for example, the last time I typed in 'yellow submarine' I went to a Beatles site and when you typed it in you went to a toy shop wanting a toy yellow submarine.

Are you saying Google will take you to several toy results and me to Beatles sites the next time we search 'yellow submarine'?

This would be nice except what if I go to the Beatles site and get a CD with their song, my young son likes the song and wants a toy yellow submarine. I go to Google to find a yellow submarine by typing in 'yellow submarine' because the last time I searched it I noticed a toy shop that sold yellow submarines. This time I search it I can't find the shop anywhere because Google gave me what it thought I wanted based on what I clicked on the last time.

This computer 'learning' is a great idea, but in the end I don't mind using my brain a little (I guess I can't speak for the rest of the world.)

Yep... be like having a personalized search robot. When you want to see what the normal search may be you might have to click an option: open search. Meaning search history should be ignored.

i dont like all this personalized stuff

I sent a suggestion to Google where I said that people should be given personalized search, and that if it didn't work the first time, it might offer related searches, in the same way properly spelled searches are offered to incorrectly spelt ones.

The open search obviously solves the problem of not finding what you're looking for.

I think this sort of cluster search would really give everyone in the SEO community humongous headaches.