Ever since Google first put in the ability to get simple math answers (type in 4+2 and Google will return 6) to their search engine, I've been in on-again-off-again debates with friends if this is a good idea. I think so. Strongly. Many others think returning calculated answers like this is off the mark. That's not what search engines should do. I disagree. I think that search engines can be quite useful not simply as search engines per se, but rather as answer engines. Searching is great. Getting answers is terrific too. Both are needed.
In fact, I'd like to see Google take the idea further. I'd like to be able to enter even more complicated math expressions and have Google (or substitute your favorite search engine) return the answer or maybe solution or maybe a pretty formatted version of it that you can paste into a Word document and so on.
Of course, entering a complicated math problem in a search engine's edit field isn't that easy. That's where inkable queries comes in.
For those that are new to my obsession with ink, here are the basics: Using Silverlight or some comparable browser-compatible technology the goal is to enable people to handwrite queries that can be recognized either locally or remotely and then sent off to an answer engine. Handwritten queries can be much more expressive in
Here's a mock up of a simple math problem written into an inkable panel:

You can play around with a live version of this SearchTIP over at TabletPCPost.com/search. In this case, no complicated math recognition is supported, but you can handwrite simple problems, such as 5*3.541, and get an answer from Google.
What should an answer engine return for a Math problem can be tricky. Not everyone wants the same thing. Maybe someone wants to just simplify an expression. Or pretty print it. Or create a textual representation. Or plot it. Or see how the problem is solved. Lots of possibilities for extensibility here.
All of this could be integrated into Google search proper or probably better yet initially hosted somewhere like math.google.com.
The idea doesn't have to begin and end with math problems, however.
What about physics.google.com or chemistry.google.com? Imagine sketching out a physics problem in Google and asking it what various forces are or the volume of something or ask it to animate the diagram and create a youtube video of the animation or what about having Google/Live Search/etc save all your handwritten problems. You get the idea. Yes, there are desktop apps that do much of these--and even some online ones now. But why not channel the traffic through Google or whomever in one place? Have a question? Go to XYZ to get the answer.
Anyway, that's my take on it. What's yours? You can leave a comment over on my other blog here.



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