A discussion of the potential for "human-assisted" development using social media platforms.

1. Schematic Representation and Discussion of
“Digital Search” vs. “Human Search”

2. Digital search vs. human search
• Digital search depends on context, relevance and link
interaction to determine the value of discrete content
elements (web pages, video elements, digital images)
• Human search in the purest sense incorporates a person’s
perspective, experience and influence in the organization of
information about a specific topic.
– In this schematic, the term “human search” is used to describe a
digital search that incorporates the behavior of individuals in their
collection, dissemination and interaction with content.
April 10, 2009 ©2009 by Daniel R. McCarthy/VHF Media Group

3. Digital Search Schematic
Start: Search Search results
Term is entered delivered in order
of relative weight of
internal & external
characteristics
Index of pages is searched for internal and
external characteristics
Context Contextual relevance Links
Analysis of how the words Analysis of how relevant the Analysis of the links into the site.
and the images relate to words on the content element Links are assessed for
each other. are to the search terms. freshness, quality and
independence.
April 10, 2009 ©2009 by Daniel R. McCarthy/VHF Media Group

4. Discussion of the components of Digital search
• Digital search indexes each web element – a web page and the incorporated
text, video, photograph – to capture each discrete bit of content and the
interaction from other web page.
• Context is determined by the way the different elements in the page relate to
each other.
– Are the language and images used in a logical way that conforms to standard practices.
– Is the content fresh
• The relative value of the content elements is assessed in terms of discrete
interactions from external sources.
– How many links are directed to this specific web element?
– Are those links from web elements that are consistent and dependable, i.e., conform to
the standards of context that has been established by the search engine.
• After context and relative value are established, the web elements are
exposed to specific search terms, and examined for Contextual Relevance.
– How closely do specific web elements conform to the specific terms that have been
used in a search.
• Relative placement in search results is determined by the degree to which
each element is ranked in terms of their contextual relevance and the quality
of external interaction.
April 10, 2009 ©2009 by Daniel R. McCarthy/VHF Media Group

5. Human Search Schematic
Search term is entered
Indexed Content Database
Each content element Content elements are
has a series of assessed for relevance to
associations indicating the search term,
the influence of the contextual relevance and
individuals who link activity according to
originated the content standard search
Person originates a
and the frequency and protocols.
content element that
type of interaction with
is shared with his the content.
connections.
Individuals in his group of
connections act on the content.
Each action is associated with the
piece of content. The content is Search results
associated to the originator and
incorporate the
the interactor. If the content is
redistributed, the person who relative interest and
redistributes it is also associated
influence of
as an originator, and further
actions are associated with the individuals and groups
content.
of individuals
April 10, 2009 ©2009 by Daniel R. McCarthy/VHF Media Group

6. Discussion of the components of Human Search
• Human search incorporates the patterns of how individuals interacts with
each other and with the content that they share between themselves with
the contextual components of digital search.
• Each person is considered an object.
• Individuals are single parts of interlocking groups of connections
• Each content element that is distributed by a person is associated at its
root with that person.
• The content element is considered a second object
• Content is then evaluated in terms of the frequency that other people in
the core connected group interact with it.
• Interactions include accessing the content, redistributing the content, commenting on
the content to the originator or ignoring the content.
• Content elements are evaluated for relevance and quality based on the
actions of the group and the habits of the group.
• For instance, if the content element has contextual similarities to other pieces of the
content that the group interacts with frequently, and the group takes a number of with
this specific piece of content, then the content is rated high in terms of relevance.
• Standard digital search routines are executed on each content element to
assess context and contextual relevance.
April 10, 2009 ©2009 by Daniel R. McCarthy/VHF Media Group

7. Relevance of Social Media to Human Search
• Individuals and groups of individuals are more clearly defined on
social media platforms
– Twitter followers
– Facebook Friends
– FriendFeed Friends
• Content elements are discretely shared between connected groups.
– Majority of content resides on originating server in originating format.
– Content is further enriched by comments/interactions within social media
platform.
• Content database will grow rapidly
– Real-time value is high
– Archival value will grow as individuals achieve impact and influence
through identifying and sharing content elements that are relevant and
interesting to their groups of connection.
April 10, 2009 ©2009 by Daniel R. McCarthy/VHF Media Group

8. Impediments to implementation
• Processing & storage capabilities
• Ability to associate content originator to content elements
and successive actions.
• Completeness of data base of content elements with
associations.
• Privacy issues.
April 10, 2009 ©2009 by Daniel R. McCarthy/VHF Media Group