Google Quotes

You may have noticed my use of "google quotes" in "Reframing the Intellectual Property Debate".

I'm coining the term to describe a quoting implementation that uses google to capture a document snapshot and highlight key phrases:

Googlequote Syntax #

<a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:www.siteIwantToQuote.com/quotedPage.html
	+Phrase1+Phrase2+Phrase3&hl=en&ie=UTF-8"
>Link Text<a>

Googlequote Examples #

"The difference between digital and analog is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug."

"The difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.

This implementation of Google Quotes assumes: #

1. Google has a cache of the page you wish to quote.
2. The cache won't change.
3. Google's API won't change.
4. You won't discover a better way of quoting later.

It also takes advantage of google's reputation for integrity to play the role of a neutral third-party.

A quote function #

The static implementation of google quotes can be improved by writing a special quote function:

<?php
  print quote("quotations.about.com/library/db/blauth_twain_vir.htm", 
        "difference between the right word and almost the right word", 
        "difference+lightning+bug", 
        "Mark Twain Quote" ); 
?>

<?php
 function quote($url, $linkText, $keywords, $title) {
   $quoteService = "http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:";

   return "<a href=\"".$quoteService.$url."+".$keywords.
   		"&hl=en&ie=UTF-8"."\" ".
   		"title=\"$title\" >".$linkText."</a>";
 }
?>

Download the Source file:   googlequote_function.txt

The advantages of the function are: #

• It can be changed if Google's API changes
• It can be improved as the blogosphere develops new ideas or if you someday decide you don't like google.

The big disadvantage is that it is language-specific.

an XML variation #

XML options are also possible. Here's my take on some possible attribute extensions to the anchor tag:

<a href="www.siteIwantToQuote.com/quotedPage.html" 
	title="Movie Industry Association President, Jack Valenti's testimony before Congress, 
	       framing the issue of IP in a networked word"
	startPhrase="difference between digital and analog"
	endPhrase="lightning bug"
	DateQuoted="2003/03/08"
>Link Text<a>

There are many possible link types. I'd like to see bloggers experiment with this and incorporate their ideas into software.

Additional xml suggestions requested.

Wish List #

• The ability for clients to automatically focus on/scroll to the highlighted phrase
• a Link Database with Automated Maintenance (of dead links)

Terminology #

The term "Google Quotes" is fine for now, when applied specifically to google, but when hypertext quotation matures, we'll need a phrase that's:

• Shorter
• Implementation-neutral

When "click here" disappears, the term can be shortened to "quote" because the hypertext context will be understood.

Notes #

With the current Google API, it is important to use "high selectivity" terms, otherwise many unwanted words will be highlighted.

Posted by Tim at March 8, 2003 01:28 PM | TrackBack