The new tool works with Ask Jeeves’ internally created image index and incorporates ranking and clustering algorithms based on Zoom-related suggestions for image searching. Zoom is Ask Jeeves’ proprietary concept for clustering results into topics.
Ask Jeeves already has an image search capability built into its core Smart Answers question-and-answer engine which lets users search across the Web by posing questions in plain English rather than quirky Boolean syntax.
Oakland, California-based Ask Jeeves says that around 15% of all searches on its portal site target images.
Launched in 1996, Ask Jeeves is a subsidiary of IAC/InterActiveCorp. The company says its online portal and search engines are used by over 35m web users.
