Google’s Bacon Number is the future of search…. really.



Contributing Writer
Google's Bacon Number Photo: Bacon Credit: Sally Hamilton


Google’s Bacon Number was introduced this week, allowing users to see how many degrees separate Kevin Bacon from any thespian (as well as some non-thespian, celebrity types).  As an easy way to play the “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” game it has some novelty (there is some dispute as to its accuracy).  The true value of Google’s Bacon Number though, is to demonstrate the massive potential of the Google Knowledge Graph.

Google’s Bacon Number as a standalone feature

There’s always been something inherently cool about the Kevin Bacon game.  Some of the novelty of the game has a lot to do with how forgettable Kevin Bacon’s roles are.  Not only has he been in a ton of movies, but he has been in a ton of movies that are difficult to remember.

What’s the benefit for Google to do something like this?  Well, if you’re like me you probably played around with it a bit:

Joan Osborne and Gladys Knight appeared in Bridge to Havana.
Gladys Knight and Elisabeth Shue appeared in Twenty Bucks.
Elisabeth Shue and Kevin Bacon appeared in Hollow Man.
 
Brad Pitt and Kevin Bacon appeared in Sleepers.
 
Gerald Ford and James Earl Jones appeared in JFK: The Day the Nation Cried.
James Earl Jones and Kevin Bacon appeared in The Magic 7.  (The Magic 7?  Who knew?)

 

And when you played around with it you probably saw some advertising.  You may have even clicked on some advertising.  Google’s Bacon Number, or more specifically Google’s Knowledge Graph may be a whole new avenue to create interactive content on Google. So if you’re not searching for something, using email or watching videos, you may want to find Alicia Silverstone’s Bacon Number.  And now you can do that on Google (the number incidentally is one: Alicia Silverstone and Kevin Bacon appeared together in Beauty Shop.)  Expect to be able to do more things like this in the future.

Google’s Bacon Number foreshadows their YOU Number

Google’s Bacon Number should give you an idea of the future.  Rather than associating movies with actors,imagine it associates you with other people, with events, with your interests… the possibilities are quite endless.  The different tangential searches that are possible with a frame of reference are mind-boggling, and the carousel and sidebar enhancements that Google has rolled out tied to the Knowledge Graph have been impressive. Google’s Knowledge Graph is a hugely ambitious project to personalize search.

I wrote yesterday about Bing’s “Bing it on” marketing campaign and how in some cases the difference between Google and Bing is more aesthetic than qualitative (Matt Cutts recently intimated that Bing was using Google as a signal in their search algorithm).

Google’s Bacon Number should give an indication of the commitment that Google is making to differentiate from their competitors in personalized search.  Bing and Facebook should be terrified.

Jim Dougherty

Jim Dougherty

Writer and chief of miscellany at leaderswest.com

I aspire to give people something to think about rather than tell them what to do. My favorite Google Alert is “social media research,” I am increasingly compelled by Gen Z, and I appreciate good writers agnostic of where they write. At one time I was Kred’s 12th most influential social media blogger and Klout’s most influential person on the topic of David Hasselhoff. Transplant from Seattle living in Cincinnati. Haven’t entirely adopted the local sports teams yet.

Jim Dougherty

@jimdougherty

Jim Dougherty

Jim Dougherty

  • http://twitter.com/AskPaulWoolley Paul K. Woolley

    I’m glad I came across your article on Twitter brother, good stuff!

  • http://twitter.com/leaderswest Jim Dougherty

    Appreciate you reading and saying hi, Paul! Hope you’re having a good one!

  • http://twitter.com/AskPaulWoolley Paul K. Woolley

    I certainly am Jim, have a good one as well :)

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