search.wikia.com The Search Wikia project is developing a new wiki-powered search engine -- but how?

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales will soon launch a major new search engine. Apparently this project will leverage human participation to enhance search engine results.

Details about this project are available on Wales' Search Wikia site. (Wikia is Wales' for-profit company.) However, after looking over the site, I couldn't figure out beyond the barest broad strokes what exactly Wales has in mind for this project. Augmenting an algorithm-driven search engine with wiki-style human input is an intriguing idea, but how might it truly work in practice?

Although some media outlets like The Times Online reported that the search engine will be called "Wikiasari," the project's about page claims that name will not be used. Also, according to the Search Wikia site, media reports that Amazon is a partner in this project are incorrect. (UPDATE JAN. 3: According to Paid Content, Amazon has invested $10 million in this project.)

You can follow this project via the Wikia Forum.