Hacker News Reader

I think the "natural language search" championed by Adioso is really cool, but the question I want to raise is whether the "natural" in our everyday speech is also "natural" in human-machine communication? i.e. could it be the case that people are so used to searching specific things online that a "natural language search" creates uncertainty about what to expect thus turning people away from the website?

View on HN

Add to the point above - when I first checked out Adioso uncertainty was the first thing I felt. If I didn't read about Adioso in the first place I wouldn't know what to do with the website.

Perhaps get a few people who have never heard about Adioso to come in one day and observe how they interact with the website. There might be things you need to tweak to make it more intuitive

I think it's a tough one. If it works it's flippin' awesome, if it doesn't it can be a despairing experience.

I guess the safe bet is to have a fall back option for those that want it.

Personally, with travel bookings I'd happily never look at a 3-part date drop-down again, even if the price is the odd clarification/re-phrasing.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com