Google Made Better

NZ Media Release

Monday, November 6, 2006

Immediate Release

Google Made Better

Kiwi-developed plug-in aims to make Google searches better

VortexDNA, a Christchurch technology company, has developed a plug-in to the Firefox browser that can improve the relevance of Google search results. And it’s looking for thousands of volunteer web-searchers to give it a free trial.

Called MyWebDNA, the plug-in can be downloaded from the VortexDNA website free of charge. Once installed MyWebDNA circles the two most relevant Google search results in the same way you might circle something that interests you in a newspaper.

“We want to take Google search to the next level” explains Raf Manji, a director of VortexDNA. “Google has enormous reach – returning thousands of search results in a fraction of a second. We want to highlight the results most relevant to you.”

Manji believes that the technology will help change the way people search the Net.

“Instead of searching the Web, we want the Web to come to you,” says Manji.

Branton Kenton-Dau, another VortexDNA director, agrees: “What you see in your browser should be your own unique window on the world, totally aligned to who you are and what you want.”

MyWebDNA seeks to create this unique view of the Web by matching search results with the user’s purpose, values and life focus.

“We believe your most relevant search results will be the ones people like you have clicked on,” says Manji. “They are like you because they share your view of the world and want the same things out of life. You could say they share the same DNA.”

Personal ‘DNA’ is created by answering a few short questions as the plug-in installs into Firefox. It can be updated at any time by logging into the VortexDNA website. The company believes it’s this connection between a person’s ‘DNA’ and their search query that will enhance the Google experience.

“It’s early days yet,” says Kenton-Dau. “We need 80,000 searches before we will know for certain how well MyWebDNA is improving your Google search. We’re working hard to make life on the web easier for everyone. Any feedback would be much appreciated.”

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