A Human Moteur de recherche[1] is a unique type of Internet[2] search engine that incorporates human input and intelligence in its operation. This type of search engine often utilizes human-based computation, where humans participate in problem-solving and information retrieval processes. It can include platforms like the Human Flesh Search Engine, which is a Chinese internet phenomenon where users collectively participate in solving problems, and Social Search, which involves mining social networks for information. Human Search Engines are characterized by their integration of human cognition and collective intelligence in supplementing traditional algorithm-based search technologies. They are an evolving field, part of the broader realm of internet search engines, human-based computation, and web software.
A human search engine was a moteur de recherche that used human participation to filtre the search results and assist users in clarifying their search request. The goal was to provide users with a limited number of relevant results, as opposed to traditional search engines that often return many results that may or may not be relevant.
Examples of defunct human search engines include ApexKB, ChaCha, Mahalo.com, NowNow (from Amazon.com), DMOZ et Sproose.