Everyday new search engines rise through the ranks just enough to get a mention on a blog or two; and most of them turn out to offer nothing except regurgitated or outdated results scraped from some other useless engine, but sometimes they offer something unique.
Stumpedia, a new human powered search engine, came on the scene in early 2008 but didn’t make a big splash, in fact, they got by me which is rare – I’m always looking to get behind someone that can give Google a run for their money. Thanks to our ever-evolving love of social networking, people of the web may be ready to accept a new engine with some pretty groovy capabilities.
According to a press release from Stumpedia,
“Stumpedia.com will enable users around the world to share their knowledge and interests with one another and provide an alternative to traditional search. Users are encouraged to create custom content pages for any possible search term in the world and links that will help people find relevant results and answers to their search requests. Links to social bookmarks, social profiles, blogs, news stories, authoritative articles, videos, images, and web pages are welcomed.”
The simple fact that Stumpedia is just now being recognized may be a blessing in disguise. Last year, social networking was big, but not this big. These last few months, people have fallen in love with Twitter like never before, StumbleUpon has been brought back to its original family of developers and Facebook is getting a new facelift. This wouldn’t be possible without people-power.
If, like me, you’re ready for search to breakout of the ordinary and into the extraordinary, I encourage you to drop in at Stumpedia, give their engine a whirl, setup an account and post a link to your site or blog – play around with it a bit. Then tell all of your friends because honestly, we need something different – it has been too many years with Google and Yahoo. We need a change and what a better way than incorporate search engine technology with social networking.
Great article! I wasn’t aware of this new search engine either. As a writer, I would like to see a human edited search engine move into a position that could compete with Google and Yahoo.
The problem that most writers face, especially those looking to self-publish, is the ability to get their literary work in front of people that may become a customer. This initial face time that we need, gives people a chance to read a bit of our writings and get to know us.
A search engine like Stumpedia, would give me the ability to promote my website and potentially promote bits of content from my book or poetry that I am working on.
Thanks for the article on Stumpedia!
Companies with commercial interests have unmerited exclusive authority to determine ranking and relevancy of public data.
The promotion of democracy and respect for human rights is a central aspect of development around the world. Censorship is detrimental to the fundamentals of our values and our freedom as individuals to choose and think for ourselves. Stumpedia’s moto of “Search For the People By The People” is powered by the very people that use it.