Centrif — like all Wikis, Strong Idea, Implausible in Execution

I'm always game for a new search platform that offers a unique perspective on delivering search results. Even if they aren't pulled off to perfection, good concepts are always worth a few laughs, at the very least. Centrif is a search platform that answers questions (reminiscent of Ask.com) with social bookmarks that users have submitted as fitting particular search queries.

Centrif is a small operation, created and maintained free of financial backing by Steve Wilson, a resident of the Philadelphia area. With the help of a few knowledgeable folks, Wilson has managed to create a pretty nifty social bookmark search engine that could be — those being the key words — very informative under the right circumstances, much like Wikia.

Though I have no particular desire to learn Japanese (right now at least), I took a cue from Venture Beat's Anthony Ha and searched "learn Japanese." Though those terms didn't yield perfect results, I was offered three alternatives, one of which seemed to be very informative for would-be learners of the Japanese language. Continuing that idea, I searched "learn Portuguese" (as I would like to learn that language), but the only result I was given was for the term "search." So much for Portuguese.

I really like the idea of Centrif. I also very much like the idea of Wikipedia, and against the vehement rants of many academia, still use it in secret for the occasional question I might have about broad concepts or general information; I don't sleep any worse for it. The problem, as it has been made plain for some time, is that user-generated content is simply unreliable. That is exactly why many students who aren't in-the-know about Wikipedia mangle term papers; one wrong fact can make a world's difference in a grade (much less a professional report).

Along that same line, the problem with Wikipedia will be a problem for Centrif. With users indexing their favorite bookmarks for different search result, you could be led to inaccurate or uninformative information quite easily. Nobody wants a wild goose chase on a little-known search engine when other search engines promise more concrete results.

To ensure quality control, moderators must be employed. But with no financial backing, a smaller venture like Wilson's probably won't manage much (if any) moderation. Wilson has said he has no plans to seek out backing, but I think with a little investment and a proper business model, a search engine like this could see success.

Wikis are fun and a great way to spend time doing things other than what you should. They take a lot of work to make reliable and valuable. Many times it just isn't viable. With that said, if anyone is in the market to learn Japanese, a few bookmarks at Centrif will surely put you right on track.