Exclusive search technology puts GMA Eleksyon 2013 ahead of the pack

One of the most important features of the GMA Eleksyon 2013 page is also one of its least noticeable: the search box.

 

The custom-made search engine offers an easy and intuitive way for people to look for election results. It eliminates the need to scroll through lengthy lists, allowing instead for the more attractive option of just typing in the name of the candidate or place they're interested to peruse – and getting the results straight up front.

 

But the Eleksyon 2013 search engine isn't just convenient, it's smart too.

 

Developed in-house by GMA Network's subsidiary, New Media Inc. (NMI), the engine features predictive technology that intelligently guesses what you're looking for, even if you're not quite sure how to spell a name – and even before you've finished typing.

 

NMI's Chief Technology Officer, Raymund Sarmiento, explains: "The search engine uses a homegrown, NMI-developed soundex algorithm. (You can) try searching for words based on their phonetic spelling, like 'iraf istrada' and 'mani pakyaw', for example, or even the jejenese 'fOr2Na2'. So hindi lang sya exact string matching." 

 

The Eleksyon 2013 search engine has proved its mettle: on Election Day itself, more than 100,000 unique users sent multiple queries through the Eleksyon 2013 search box. This helped boost GMA News' website to the top of Effective Measure's online industry-wide rankings, with over 21 million page views on May 14 – more than four times the volume of its nearest competitor. — GMA News