Intellext Releases Free Watson 2.2 Contextual Search Application

Filed under: Internet, Text, Utilities, Windows, Office, Productivity, Commercial, Freeware

Intellext Releases Free Watson 2.2 Contextual Search Application

by Jason Clarke Dec 14th 2005

Contextual search is one of those technologies I’ve been wanting for a long time, but it’s also one where if it is done poorly, things can go very wrong very quickly. So far, I’ve yet to find one that I’m happy leaving on my system for any length of time. That may now have chanced, with the release of the new free version of Watson.

Intellext describes their application this way: “Watson understands what you are working on and brings you the information you need – from anywhere – web search engines, desktop search applications, blogs, news sites, subscription services, even your company's information systems. In real-time, without being asked. It’s like having a personal research assistant you don’t have to micromanage.”

I’ve only been using Watson for a few hours, but I must admit that it has some serious potential. The interface is clean, and can be made to auto-hide so that it is unobtrusive. Watson watches the text that is active on your screen in a number of programs including like Outlook, Word and PowerPoint, and Internet Explorer and Firefox. In real time, it begins searching the web and your desktop search application for related material to that which you are working with. If you’re working in a large document with a number of concepts, you can highlight a section and tell Watson to search only on that text. So far I’m finding the results useful, and the program stays out of my way.

At this point, Watson doesn’t appear to be able to connect to Firefox on my system, but I have submitted a request to their support department for assistance. Even with this misstep, Watson is still worth a good look.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

lakiolen said 2:50PM on 12-14-2005

No mention of privacy!? Advertizers(spamers) would LOVE to be able to know exactly what you're doing/typing/viewing.

Derek Helt said 7:19PM on 12-14-2005

I downloaded it and gave it a try. It was slow and buggy when it started up. I like the concept, but it's not for me.

Paul said 11:50PM on 12-14-2005

Intellext is the same annoying company that puts double-underlined links on all your favorite sites, making them more annoying to read as well as throwing huge roll-overs. That same contextual search annoyance is probably the same behind this gem.

Al Wasserberger said 2:18AM on 12-15-2005

Hi - this is Al from Intellext.

Thank you so much for the great review - and for the group of users that have downloaded Watson as a result of your post!

I'd like to address some of your user's concerns.

First of all PRIVACY: Yes - Watson has amazing intelligence about what you are doing to be effective at bringing you contextually relevant information, but you will be comforted to know that we at Intellext are very serious about privacy. Watson is smart, but has no memory. Watson does not store, nor transmit any personal information. Since all the processing is done at the desktop, we at Intellext don�t get any information about you, your documents, their content, or what you do with them. This is a stark contrast to some well known products which do build a profile on you based on the searches you execute and the websites you visit. Watson is all about serving YOU.

Also, as did one of your readers, some people confuse us with IntelliTXT (an offering from Vibrant Media) that does in-line advertising on content websites. The company that does the double-underlining is Kontera, with their DynamiContext product. We are Intellext (http://www.intellext.com), and our only products are Watson and Watson Professional - products that are about serving YOU.

If you'd like to talk to us, please consider sending a note to feedback@intellext.com (I read every one - just put in the message "I'd like to hear from Al" and I'll respond), or chatting live with us (you can find the live chat link at the top of the page at http://www.intellext.com/contacts.html).

Al

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