Shared search

A new approach to internet searching that helps people to share their search experiences with friends and colleagues has been developed by researchers at University College Dublin (UCD).

HeyStaks, a new web browser plug-in, works with Google and provides users with the ability to create so-called 'search staks' as a way of organising and sharing their searches.

For example, using the new technology a group of friends planning a holiday abroad might create and share a 'Holiday 2008' search stak.

As each person searches for travel, accommodation and entertainment options, their search selections will be automatically shared with the other group members during future searches as specially highlighted search results. In this way the group members benefit from each others’ searches as they plan for the perfect holiday.

Likewise, a group of students collaborating on a project might create a search stak to capture their individual searches and share what they have found with the group, leading to more productive research.