Open Search Directory

Middlespot.com - Text and Visual Search Combined

URL:
http://www.middlespot.com

Info:
Alexa | Whois

Submitted by:
AOS

I’ve reviewed multiple visual search engines to date, each with it’s own approach to user interface and design. However, Middlespot.com is the first visual search engine I’ve see that effectively combines the usefulness of a text search with the functionality of a visual snapshot.

On top of the visual search capabilities, Middlespot also allows it’s users to save different sites and screen shots in groups called “workpads”. Workpads function like a custom search list and a visual gallery that you can note, save, and share with others. These two key features, combined with a well thought out and functional user interface make this a nice site to add to your toolbox (and browser search bar).

A Split Interface That Works As One.

Now, Middlespot may not win any beauty contests for it’s design, but what it lacks in flair, it definitely makes up for in functionality.  The first thing you notice when you perform a search on Middlespot is it’s split screen search results page.  On the left hand side you have a standard set of text based search results - similar to what you would find on Google or Yahoo! - While on the right hand side, you have screenshot gallery of all the search results on the left.

My initial impression of the search results page was that it was very basic and non-impressing; A text based search results and a gallery… big deal right?… Wrong. However, after I started playing around with the interface I started to notice a lot of details that make this a very useful search engine.

The first thing you notice on the search results page is the large, numbered gallery of screenshots on the right hand side.  One of the cool features programmed in to the gallery is the intuitive control features.  Using only the mouse as input,  you can zoom in, drag, and highlight each of the screenshots.   On top of the gallery controls, they’ve also linked the text results to images as well.  By simply mousing over a page, the interface will automatically scroll up or down and highlight the text results for the page in question.  This feature also works both ways; By mousing over the text results, it selects and highlights the screenshot as well.

Workpads

Workpads is a nice little feature that turns Middlespot from a regular search engine, into something different and more useful.  Workpads are similar to bookmarks, in that you can select multiple sites from a search query, comment on each one, and save them for later use.

Just that feature alone can be useful when researching a subject or trying to gather information from multiple sources, but they’ve also added options for sharing your workpads with others.  Besides from being able to save your workpads for later or email them to friends, the site also offers an embeddable widget that you can place on your blog or web site.  I’ve included an example of this feature below with a search for “Search Engines”.  As you can see, by clicking on one of the links, it simply brings you directly to that site.

The Verdict

As I mentioned above, there are many visual search engines and most concentrate on the actual aesthetics of the interface instead of the functionality.  So, if you’re looking for one that actually works and is useful, give Middlespot a try.