Application of cloud computing in Internet search
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Since more than a year ago, we’ve been analyzing the demands of Baidu’s users. We find that 70 percent of users who input key words are searching for information, while the other 30 percent are looking for applications. At this point, the technology used by the traditional search engines can hardly meet such demands of the users. We need new technology that can meet users’ demands not only for information and data but also for applications. Box computing is able to integratedly meet all users’ demands in a box. Besides Baidu’s analysis of the demands, the open platforms are also very important for us to achieve the goal. There must be enough developers to provide relevant applications for the open platforms. Then we can distribute the various demands of the users to those developers that can really provide those applications. Finally we can complete the process of meeting users’ demands.
Now I would like to share several examples of applications with everyone here. Take the "Tank Combat" for example, it is a game. Once you key in its name, you will see a series of game providers and you can start playing the game directly on the search page. If you key in "anti virus," and if you are looking for Kingsoft Anti-virus service, you could immediately download the software or start the online virus scanning. All these are mission impossible for traditional search engines. Thanks to the open platform for the applications, all kinds of applications could be displayed on Baidu’s platform and find their clients or users that they need. This could also constantly drive the emergence of applications. On October 15 this year, also the International Day of the Blind, an application called Input Method on Mobile Phone for the Blind got online on Baidu’s open platform for applications. This software was developed by a company set up by blind people. According to the company’s feedback, after the application got online, they received as many phone inquiries in a day as they did in the past three months. In fact, they could hardly have contacts to so many blind people in the past. But now they can get relevant users through a simple box on Baidu. Then more and more creations will be promoted; more and more developers will emerge to meet the users’ demands, no matter they are individuals or companies.
Currently, China has more than 100,000 independent developers as well as 300,000 professional Website providers. They are all providers for Baidu’s open platform. We have carried out cooperation with many, many developers. They submitted their applications. "Instant search and use" will also be realized. While in the past, when you searched for an application, the search engine would provide you a series of links. You clicked on a certain link and then you could start using it. Box computing allows you to directly use applications without leaving the search page.
Box computing is not only the technology extension of search engines, but also the trend for the development of the IT industry, the computing terminal of the future. I noticed that the State Council has identified the new generation of information technology. The intelligent terminal is involved in the new generation of information technology. What is the direction for the development of the intelligent terminal? As we all see, no matter in the operating system of Windows or on the user interface of the iPhone, there are buttons one after another. The more buttons you use, the more complicated it becomes. I think that these buttons don’t represent the trend for the development of the industry. The real trend is like this: When you open the terminal, you can immediately see one thing, a box. You just key in what you need in the box, and you don’t need to know anything else. This is a revolution that the Internet industry has brought us. In the early times, if you wanted to use PC, you have to learn every single operating system. Later we all know that, no one needs to learn anything when using search engines. Just key in what you need as long as there is a search box. The advancement of technology makes the operating costs of the terminal users lower and lower. In my point of view, what the future intelligent terminal needs is only a box, and that is enough. We will solve the rest of the problems.
The idea of box computing endeavors to guide users to the most outstanding Internet service providers using the most remarkable technology of demand recognition and analysis. Meanwhile, we take measures such as open platforms to lead the upsurge of industrial creation based on the research of the users’ demands and prompt the fast development of the industrial eco-chain. We believe that box computing will enhance the development of the new generation of information technology. It will make various intelligent terminals be accepted by more and more users; because the users don’t have to learn it, and the operating threshold will get lower and lower.
In terms of cloud computing, the Cloud Computing Project carried out by the Beijing municipal government prescribes that a 50-billion-yuan industry will be formed in 2015 by three typical services provided by cloud computing: service for infrastructures, platform service and software service. And this will make the output value of the cloud computing industry reach 200 billion yuan. All these will provide great industrial chances for high-tech companies. Baidu will soon be responsible for two items of the Major Projects of China Cloud Computing Phase I, part of the 863 Program initiated by the Ministry of Science and Technology. They are Development of Internet Operating System and Development of Internet Translating System. This year, we start preparation work to build the biggest cloud computing center in China. And we will build several similar centers in the future not only to meet the search demand for the tens of millions of Baidu’s users, but also to provide stable and reliable cloud computing service to other companies across the country.
It is still unknown what kind of wider areas cloud computing will be applied to. We are all exploring it. It contains big opportunities. Of course, new problems also will arise. At the beginning of this year when I participated in the IT Leader Summit in Shenzhen, I said that many cloud computing didn’t possess new technology; they were just old wine in a new bottle. Some companies think cloud computing is just some simple jobs on the background. I think they should be cautious about it.
Baidu is willing to work together with everyone, to seize these chances, to make breakthroughs in core technology and to enhance the prosperity and development of the information industry.
Thank you!
