Google Coop is a neat way to build a custom search engine, and that is exactly what I am setting out to do; Build a custom search engine specific to product design. What is particularly cool is that it is possible for up to 100 members to be contributors, allowing for these members to add URLs to a list that will be included in the search whenever a query is submitted.
Since product design is a vast domain, the search engine is limited to everything that commonly fits in a building. This essentially excludes design related to architecture though occasional exceptions have been made. Though I have not excluded any thing related to user interface and web
design, I have not made any particular effort to include it either.
Included is everything related to technology, gadgets, innovation, design methodology, design firms, people aka designers, design in academia. This list will be modified with time.
The script for the Google gadget isn't working; the direct link to the search engine is here Doodle: Product Design Search
Currently at just 89 websites, I am planning on adding more. If you wish to be a contributor, please drop me an email.
Some resources pointers and resources that are available in case you are planning to build your own search engine:
- It is possible to speed up the process by uploading an OPML file. Currently I have just been using Google Marker for the purpose, which builds up the list of sites one at a time when visit it.
- Open source code to upload del.icio.us links with a specific tags can be found at Zooie's blog
- Useful information is available on the Google Custom Search Blog.
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