LikeCube
Description:
"When I'm visiting a new city, I hate ending up in the equivalent of a Pizza Express when my perfect little bistro was just round the corner if only I'd known," says Eleanor Ford.
To end such frustration and enable others to find the bars, restaurants and hotels which are right for them - Eleanor and Daniele Turi are developing LikeCube.
LikeCube is a recommendation system for leisure, which ensures users find relevant suggestions, as rated by like-minded people they can trust.
It aims to put an end to the hours that consumers spend trawling the Internet only to decide against making a booking because they can't make sense of the mountain of contradictory reviews.
How it works
"The ever-growing volume of user generated reviews on the web is important for any bookings/listings site. But there are problems for both consumer and site –such as, can you trust the reviewer? How do you know whether they share your taste?" explains Eleanor.
To overcome this, LikeCube identifies 'taste neighbours' by combining various forms of a user's web activity. Armed with this detailed information, the system recommends only the venues which will suit that individual.
"It means two users will get different results, or maybe the same result recommended for different reasons," says Eleanor.
Breaking new ground
Combining cutting edge semantic web and collaborative filtering technologies, LikeCube's web 2.0 platform has the potential to revolutionise the personalised recommendations market.
The aim is to truly filter information, rather than simply sharing it around.
"So if a new user types in the name of a hotel they like, we can recommend similar hotels we know they'll also like. The technology allows the same user to differentiate between say, their business persona and their requirements when travelling for pleasure," explains Eleanor.
The show so far
Having developed a working platform, LikeCube is first offering licensing deals to e-commerce leisure sites. Already it has created significant interest with leading players.
"LikeCube can transform a website's existing system so that customers can more easily find the reviews, ratings and comments relevant to their own taste," says Eleanor.
"It puts an end to the problem of venues losing custom because of a single bad review written by a nightmare guest, or by someone for whom the place just wasn't right.
"We're finding that it's a win-win. Consumers save time and, because they know they can trust the information they receive, they are proving more likely to go ahead and convert their visit into an actual booking."
The ultimate goal
The company will be seeking investment to roll-out the system. Eventually, their aim is to set up their own user service, a one-stop shop for tailor-made recommendations.
Written: March 2007
Individual:
Eleanor Ford and Daniele Turi
Programme:
Creative Pioneer
Discipline:
ICT
Location:
London
Funding:
£35,000
Year first funded:
2006
Website:
www.likecube.co.uk