Slashdot has a discussion on Haystack.
Haystack is a tool designed to let every individual manage all of their information in the way that makes the most sense to them. By removing the arbitrary barriers created by applications only handling certain information “types”, and recording only a fixed set of relationships defined by the developer, we aim to let users define whichever arrangements of, connections between, and views of information they find most effective. Such personalization of information management will dramatically improve each individual’s ability to find what they need when they need it.
Haystack looks into the use of artificial intelligence techniques for analyzing unstructured information and providing more accurate retrieval.’ Unlike some attempts I’ve seen in the past to pull it all together on my desktop, Haystack shows some promise — One of it’s more useful features allows you to take the information you’ve been wallowing through, and have Haystack continually refine a ‘dynamic hierarchy’ until you get what you need. Haystack also performs some neat tricks such as combining Email, IM, web pages, etc. into a single inbox.
We should try it out.
