Here’s A Web Directory that Helps You Do, Not Find - Completely New Way to Search

Have you ever wanted to search for something on the Internet but didn’t quite know just where or how to get the phrasing of your search in a way that would actually get you meaningful results? Well, here’s a radically new solution to this common problem. Try Gimpsy http://www.gimpsy.com for a completely new experience

Gimpsy is an Internet directory that categorises sites in a new and very unique way. Unlike any other Internet directory that categorise Web sites according to their subject, Gimpsy is only concerned with the service that a site provides to Internet users. In other words, Gimpsy is a directory that lists only sites that provide some kind of online activity or helps you to accomplish a specific task.

Gimpsy is to be the definitive guide to the World Wide Web virtual city. It aims to be the first choice for every user that wants to do something online, but doesn't know which sites provide it. Thousands of people are bookmarking the site every month, and the trend is growing.

This site is obviously very different from all other directories out there. When, why and how did it all begin?

It is said the inspiration for Gimpsy came, as so often with many other inventions, out of frustration with existing technology. It was based on the thinking that most Internet users have had at some time - 'Why can't I get the results that I want?' It became obvious to the designers that the reason is that “search engines don't understand what I want”. So is there a way to make them understand? It was then that the idea of Gimpsy came about. Gimpsy is simply designed so that once you have made your intention clear; it will provide you with a list of sites where you can accomplish them.

So what is it that makes Gimpsy so different to all other systems?

The key to Gimpsy's ability to match sites to users' requests is its singular classification method. Instead of classifying sites using broad areas of life, like 'business', 'entertainment', 'health' or 'government', Gimpsy starts the classification with the service provided by the site. What can users actually do on the site? Accordingly, sites are categorised by actions such as 'buy', 'play', 'listen', 'chat' and 'bet'.

The most fundamental difference seems to be the categorisation model. Almost every directory on the Internet follows the traditional design outline of Yahoo, which was the first major directory made available. Since that time just about all home pages of all directories have looked virtually identical.

When a Yahoo style editor reviews a site they will try to answer the question: What is this site about? Whereas when a Gimpsy editor reviews a site they come from a different angle, they ask 'What can the user do on this site?' Consequently, the home page of Gimpsy simply lists verbs, like buy, design, play, subscribe, trade, etc.

So if Gimpsy is so “picky”, how DO Web sites manage to get selected for listing?

Gimpsy is highly selective when it comes to listing sites. It will only accept sites for which the question "what can I do here" is relevant. If the answer is "reading", the site will not be accepted for listing by the editors, irrespective of whether the information is of the highest quality and the content is the most authoritative in the field.

As part of the editorial review of each site, the editor determines the site's "coverage." In other words, which areas of the world the site is servicing? Users can set their preferences that include location. Once the location is chosen, Gimpsy will show only sites that are relevant to that location.

Does it work like normal search tools though?

Gimpsy is the only general purpose directory where you can enter a normal English phrase and get relevant results. It will show you which sites provide that service. Unlike traditional search tools that require you to manipulate keywords and phrases, this system actually provides you with a Natural Language Search facility. All you need do is complete the sentence 'I want to...' and you will get a list of sites where you can do whatever you asked for.

Gimpsy understands requests such as "buy car magazines ", "Chat about wrestling", “Download shareware screensaver”, it can even get you to sites so you can ” Write to Santa”. It excels in returning hassle free, highly precise results instead of the usual “un-meaningful” sites. Take a look at the examples page, where the last 15 Natural Language queries are kept.

So this is really just another type of Search Engine then?

No, not really. Search Engines are more like the index in a book. Using it, you can find on which page, a particular word or phrase appears. Likewise, Search Engines are indexing all the web pages that they come across. That is, they build a huge reference list that shows on which web page, particular words appear. When searching for a page or site using a Search Engine, no “relationship” is assumed between the words in the search phrase.

Gimpsy also stands far apart from the rest of the field when it comes to searching. The interface, the search method, the advertising opportunities, and the actual contents of the directory are all radically different from traditional search engines.

At Gimpsy, you don't so much search for information as you do things. Instead of searching for "online Spanish lessons training," you search "learn Spanish."

Because Gimpsy only lists sites that do something, it is not filled with promotional sites and affiliate sites, which exist only to lead visitors to other sites. For that reason, searching Gimpsy can be much easier than searching other directories and search engines.

I notice that the results do not seem to have any particular sorting – why is this?

The first few search results in a Gimpsy search may be featured sites, which have paid for placement. All other matches are randomly sorted, because they all meet the search criteria and editorial standards, and are thus all equally useful to the searcher. The random sort order changes once per month, for fairness' sake.

So how does this site get to list such highly relevant results?

An international team of expert editors hand select each and every site to make sure they meets Gimpsy's strict inclusion criteria. While this is obviously a long and laborious task, it is probably the only way it could achieve the high standards they state of themselves.

For the experienced users, Gimpsy offers many ways to further refine the search results. For example, they can be limited by geographical location or by payment requirement. Registered users can keep sites they like in a special 'favourites' list. They also gain access to the internal discussion forum, where they may communicate directly with the Gimpsy team.

Gimpsy only covers sites that provide an interactive online service. If a site is only a repository of information, such as a newspaper, it will not be included. Even a store that has its catalogue online, but does not allow users to shop online - will not be included.

I’ve not heard of this site before, how long has it been around?

Gimpsy is relatively new in the search engine arena, having launched in beta on February 1, 2002. Gimpsy was opened to the public on October 30, 2002 so it’s really only been around for about the last 18 months. One of the very refreshing things about this site is its very clean, simple and functional user interface. They are obviously aiming to provide the best 'finding service' and to that end are obviously continuing to refine and improve it as they go. According to the sites owner, “anything that gets in the way is thrown out", hence, no banners, pop-ups, buttns or elaborate graphics to slow down response time.

Arthur Hissey
Computer Research & Technology
www.crt.net.au