Google's latest patent application runs, in part, thusly...


"In an implementation consistent with the present invention, the set
of favored and non-favored sources may be automatically determined. To
accomplish this, exemplary queries in the query theme may be
classified into a set of topics (e.g., an online topic hierarchy, such
as Yahoo!, Open Directory, or Google) using the approach for
classification described above. Web hosts that appear in the URLs
associated with the best matching topics to the query theme may be
taken to be favored sources. For example, if the query theme is "sites
that in finding accommodation," then web hosts listed under the
Open Directory category "http://dmoz.org/Recreation/Travel/Lodging"
can be taken as favored sources."

Seems like Google are admitting the limitations of their algo (no big
surprise to the rest of us) and trying to compensate by bringing in
human supervision. Which, to a degree, they've always done by relying
so heavily on DMOZ to function as an ancillary human judging system.
Problem is, now that they seem to be wanting to expand that aspect,
who they gonna call? DMOZ is pretty much a spent force and if they
hire people off the street then how are they going to train them? Who
will judge the judges?

BB
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