[BITList] New British search engine 'could be as important asGoogle' | Technology | guardian.co.uk

[HUGH]

While I was with Kincaid in the 80s we acquired a small program that could 
give a pretty good imitation of learning.  Over a period it could pick up 
what was a "correct" response and what was nonsense.  It took time, but 
eventually it was like talking (via keyboard and screen) to someone who 
sometimes wasn't listening. At its best it was uncanny.  It baffled the 
boss, but computers in general baffled Robert.

Google is fast, but very broad brush, and I understand it places sites 
according to how often they are accessed, so anything new is at the back of 
approx 312,867,165 hits.  Of  late I have found it not very helpful.  I am 
reminded of WW1, when my mother would send me round to the local newsagent 
to change her library book - the newsagent had a small lending library in 
his shop.  I was to bring back (a) a romance, that (b) she hadn't already 
read.  It says much for my powers of analysis that I always seemed to get it 
right, so I was better than Google. My method was simple.  If a man kissed a 
woman anywhere in the book, but especially at the end, that was the one I 
took.

Hugh.