99% Invisible Search and Ye Might Find
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Sep 14, 2022 
In this engaging discussion, Adam Rogers, Senior tech correspondent at Insider, and Kurt Kolstad, Digital director at 99% Invisible, explore the complexities of search technology. They dive into challenges we face in digital searches, from personal files to e-commerce sites, revealing user frustrations with profit-driven algorithms. The duo contrasts historical search methods with modern AI tools and discusses the evolving landscape of SEO, emphasizing the need for ethical practices and community-driven platforms for reliable information.
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Grandma's Failing Library
- Adam Rogers' grandmother, a library science professor, organized her books meticulously for easy access.
- However, as she aged, her system failed, highlighting the fragility of personal knowledge organization.
Search: An Old Problem
- Search is an ancient design problem, existing since humans began writing.
- Early solutions like the Dewey Decimal System and reference librarians were human-mediated, organizing information by topic.
Vannevar Bush's Memex
- Vannevar Bush's Memex, a hypothetical machine, envisioned linking information by keywords, not just topics.
- This concept, though never built, foreshadowed the World Wide Web's keyword search approach.