Comments on: Start-up developing new Web interaction paradigm

The secretive start-up Siri plans to make the interface to the Internet more usable by mere mortals.

[gonumber2539]

Yes yes yes! Having met the fine ahead of their time folks at SRI back in the middle of the 1990s, if there is a team that can finally bring about a much needed human factors nirvana, it is SIRI.

[phylum--2008]

So it basically sounds like Microsoft Bob for the web.

Before the indignant flames start, certainly with Tom Gruber involved, this could be a successful venture; but that's about where my respect for this project ends. As a successful (East Coast) entrepreneur, this kind of secretive, "we can't tell you exactly what we do, but it has something to do with the Internet, and we're confident that we can sell for a 50X EBITDA multiple in 2 years..." is just *so* typical of the Valley -- lots of talk and "Big Vision", but without those pesky fundamentals like a rational business model, a sales pipeline, or even a clearly-identified customer need.

[ACheyer]

A small point of clarification:
- Radar Networks, Farecast and Adapx are not SRI spinouts. Radar Networks and Adapx worked on the CALO project as subcontractors to SRI, and one of the Farecast founders (Oren Etzioni) worked on CALO through University of Washington. However, in the future, there is a good chance that SRI will spin out additional CALO-related startups besides Siri.

[jbeeravalli]

I think it is time for a paradigm shift in digital interactivity. Recently signed up for a private beta with another semantic startup - Zahdoo.com. Claims itself to be a socio-cognitive utility. Took 8 weeks to receive the invitation code. Technology and features were impressive but felt they should have done better on the UI and user experience. I can't wait to explore Siri.com - signed up for a private beta. I feel Google's of the world have their own space and these apps can definitely supplement them.