I started typing in Search Engine and discovered the question “How should I SEO my site?”. OK this sounds interesting. I’ll base it on my own website.

1. When it comes to the code within your website (HTML, PHP etc.) how comfortable are you to edit and change it?
   I feel confident and comfortable.
2. Are you willing to invest a good amount of money into this SEO?
   Yes, but the return will be worth it.
3. Is a significant amount of the persuasive content on your site in Flash?
   No.
4. Is your website targeted for exactly the products/services/readership you would like to attract?
   Yes, unbelievably so.
5. When searching Google or another search engine for your products/services/musings, are you listed on the first page of results?
   No. (well sometimes they are)
6. What are the goals of your website?
   Sales and/or conversions.
7. Do you want to convert visitors into:
   Sales.
8. Answer #1: Do it yourself
   Well I have to say that this Hunch is very accurate as this is indeed my profession!

Let’s try something else.  ”Which Search Engine should I use?”:

1. Would you prefer:
   A general web search engine.
2. How should the results be displayed?
   In a classic page of links sorted by relevance.
3. Answer #1: Google Search
   Well this is the Search Engine that I use, however Hunch seems to have come to this conclusion very quickly here? Do they have a preference for Google?

Another question – we are on a roll: “Should I start blogging?”:

1. Do you enjoy writing about topics you’re into?
   Yes, I enjoy expressing myself in writing.
2. Do you write to remember things?
   Yes, when I write something down I feel like I’m freeing space for more thoughts.
3. Do you use the Internet to connect with interesting and like-minded people?
   Yes, I like connecting with people, because you never know which acquaintances may prove rewarding in the future.
4. Do you have ideas that you’d like to share with people?
   Yes, some of my ideas could be valuable to others and I’m happy to share them.
5. Do you enjoy writing?
   Sometimes, when the mood strikes me.
6. Would you describe yourself as:
   Creative.
7. How do you feel about others reading your work?
   Sure, go ahead!
8. Are you interested in using a blog to accomplish any of the following?
   Growing your business.
9. Have you ever heard that you should start a blog?
   Yes, a few times.
10. 90% Answer: Yes, you are most likely a blogger.
    Three in a row…

Lets try a personal question: “Should I adopt?”

1. Do you feel prepared to handle the financial costs associated with raising a child?
   Yes, I feel prepared.
2. For how long have you been considering or thinking of adopting?
   More than two years.
3. Do you already have children who:
   Don’t yet have kids.
4. When talking with your friends and family about adopting, how do they react?
   They encourage me.
5. You live in a household with:
   One income.
6. Did you ever lose interest in a pet once it was no longer new and young (puppy, kitten, etc…)?
   No.
7. Do you have experience baby-sitting for other parents?
   Yes, but never with very young children.
8. Does your partner also want children?
   Yes.
9. How secure are you in your current career?
   Skip this question as it is currently not applicable.
10. What is your primary reason for considering adoption?
    I want to help a disadvantaged child or mother.
11. 99% Answer: You Should Adopt.
    Well thank goodness for that!!

Well I am very happy with these results and this time around all questions that I have wanted to ask have appeared, unlike on my last attempt. I think that I will come back and use this ‘decision engine’ in the future, as most questions I have asked it have been spot on.

Let’s start with a simple (or perhaps complex) question:

1. Which Camera Should I Buy? (I did enter ‘Which digital camera should I buy?’ but this was the closest match)
   1. Hunch returns the question “How much are you willing to spend?”
2. Now it seems that my country of residence is not taken into consideration. I can only guess that my multiple choice of answers is in US$ which is not all that appropriate for me as I live in Hong Kong. Either way, I work out the conversion and answer “Up to $500″.
   1. Hunch asks “Do you want a “point and shoot”, an SLR, or a Rangefinder camera?”
3. I answer “Point and Shoot”. Keep in mind that I actually know which camera I wish to buy, but I want to see if Hunch can figure it out.
   1. Hunch asks “Would you prefer a camera that fits in your pocket?”
4. “Yes”
   1. “Would you prefer a camera with a wide-angle lens (good for indoor and close group photos)?”
5. Actually I am not sure if the camera I want has this feature. I’ll go with a “Yes”.
   1. “How much zoom do you want?”
6. “3x-6x”
   1. “Would you be willing to pay more for a camera with an excellent LCD display to compose and view photos?”
7. Well I don’t see how this would add to the price significantly, but I am always willing to stretch my budget for extra quality so I’ll answer “Yes”.
   1. “Which of the following is most important for this camera?”
8. Um… “Compact size”.
   1. “How experienced are you?”
9. “Intermediate photographer”
   1. “Would you prefer a camera that can take pictures very quickly?”
10. As I reach question 10, I wonder how long will this go on for? Unfortunately I cannot ask that question right now! However do keep in mind that you can select “Skip this question” or “Give me the Hunch” at any time. I like precision so I will continue and answer “Yes”.
    1. “Is indoor photography without a flash important?”
11. Uh, let’s go with “Yes, very important” as I presume this is referring to the equivalent question ‘Do you want a camera that can take long exposure shots?’.
    1. And the answer is “Canon PowerShot SD960IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image”

However, I still think that none of these are waterproof. Hence my results are pretty useless. Unfortunately when I type in “Which waterproof camera should I buy?” I am still only given the equivalent question of “Which camera should I buy?”. Let’s try another question which I already know the answer to.

1. I start buy typing headphones and select the question “Which headphones should I get?”
   1. Again “How much are you planning to spend?”
2. I answer “More that $100″
   1. “Which style of headphones do you prefer to wear?”
3. “Traditional over-the-head style”
   1. “Do you want headphones with noise canceling technology built in?”
4. “Yes”
   1. “Where will you be using these the most?”
5. “At home”
   1. “Will you mostly be using this as an:”
6. “Audiophile”
   1. “Does it matter if the sound leaks outside the headphones so that others can hear them at high volume?”
7. “Yes, I would rather other people not hear what I am listening to”
   1. “Does paying extra for design make sense?”
8. “Oh, Yes”
   1. Oh, yes, Yes, YES! “High-Definition Headphones”

Now, this is the main problem with engines such as these. There are just too many questions out there and therefore it may be impossible to get the answer for them from any one particular source. Therefore we may still have to try Wikipedia, Hunch, Wolfram Alpha or in the end we may have to refer to our good old friend Google to give us the answer.

Even though Google’s results are many and require a bit of scanning the page, Google will tell me:

1. Why is the sky blue?
   1. With the number one result a formidable answer from a ’science made simple’ website.
2. Why is the sea green?
   1. With a viable answer in first place from Wikipedia.
3. Who is the richest man in the World?
   1. With another answer from Wikipedia in first place.
4. Best waterproof digital compact camera?
   1. After refining my search to “Best waterproof Olympus digital compact camera?” in first place pop photo tells me about the “Olympus Stylus Tough 8000″
5. Best headphones to buy?
   1. Well I can find a load of good headphones to buy – But I haven’t come across my favourite pair like Hunch did.

So overall Google scores 4, Hunch scores 1. Although, going by Google, and 2nd and 3rd place on Hunch, I may consider the Bose line of headphones now that I am aware of them.

As I take a look at this new entity on the web I am quite willing to answer the first 20 questions as I discover what Hunch is all about. I figure that Hunch may be worth signing in so in one quick and easy step the task is done. Here is my introduction to Hunch:

Welcome to Hunch! Hunch is a decision-making tool, built by its users. In ten questions or fewer, Hunch gives you its best hunch of what you would like. Read the FAQ for help, post to the forums for questions or suggestions, and let us know how we can make Hunch help you. We’re glad you’re here.
Now go make some decisions!

Looking at the home page, on first inspection Hunch looks like Yahoo Answers.  You can join in on topics, tell Hunch more about yourself by answering questions, give ratings on different topics, keep an eye on certain activities via a feed, as well as browsing specific topics.

At the bottom of the home page is a ‘people’ section which kind of looks like a match making section – of what relevance this has to a search engine or for that matter a decision engine, I am not sure…

I’m intrigued by the questions which claim to be able to teach Hunch about yourself and therefore give you customised results which will better match any queries that you may ask Hunch. Well, after answering one question, already I am stuck with an error:

Hunch encountered an error.
Please Refresh the page to retry.

OK then, let’s try again. Perhaps it is that everyone has got word on Hunch and that is the reason for it running so slow today – but it is not a good first impression from me. Refresh hasn’t worked and I am proceeding to open a new window. Well, that’s it for me – it seems that Hunch is down. Too bad – I won’t be coming back here in a hurry.

Going on other reviews of Hunch, here are some links of recommended reading – since I cannot access the site myself:

• Hunch: Your “Personal Decision Makr”
• Hunch: A Real Decision Engine

Meanwhile it seems that Hunch is responding again, however it is still very slow. I may give it another go tomorrow.