Re:Ask HN: Please review my OpenCourseWare Search Engine
by pierrefar on Wednesday April 21, 2010 @07:31AM
(#1281872)
Others have asked for an advanced search interface, and I think your idea of filters fits right in with that. Thanks!
What I'm imagining now is actually at least two new user tools to help them do their searches: a query builder that does the advanced operator searches for them (like Google's advanced search form) and filters on the search results.
You got my brain in over-drive :)
Re:Ask HN: Please review my OpenCourseWare Search Engine
by nl on Wednesday April 21, 2010 @08:34AM
(#1281990)
My view is that advanced search interfaces don't add a lot of value, but filtering does.
People like to be able to explore result sets interactively. Properly implemented filters give you all the functionality of advanced search, but with the benefit of seeing exactly what you are getting dynamically.
Have a look at the filters on a search like this: http://shopper.cnet.com/1770-5_9-0.html?query=Core+i5&ta...
It gives much better feedback than an advanced search does.
One thing we found was that providing alternate forms of navigation and filtering is important.
For example, from memory the OCW metadata contains subjects. If the query result pages displayed those as facets then it would allow users to refine results by subjects. "School" and "Year" would be other good facets.
Solr does faceting really well, BTW