MEs mine message boards for info

March 20, 2003
Effyis, a company created by mechanical-engineering students from the University of Michigan, recently developed www.boardreader.com, a search engine that collects and categorizes data in message boards. "Search engines can find Web pages, but we realized there was no method to find and organize the information on message boards," says Effysis cofounder Peter Smith.

Effyis, a company created by mechanical-engineering students from the University of Michigan, recently developed www.boardreader.com, a search engine that collects and categorizes data in message boards. "Search engines can find Web pages, but we realized there was no method to find and organize the information on message boards," says Effysis cofounder Peter Smith.

The site provides linked access to various bulletin boards about automotive, arts and antiques, boats, computers, entertainment, health, home and garden, motorcycles, outdoor recreation, sports, and travel. "We found that message boards had two functions," says Smith. "One was to swap information and the other was to buy and sell things. We wanted to develop a way to split the comments from the commerce."

The site contains sections for classified ads; featured classifieds which link users to sites where items are bought and sold; and general information.

Sponsored Recommendations

Aug. 22, 2025
Discover how to meet growing customer demands for custom products without overextending your engineering team. Learn how scaling your automation strategy can help you win more...
Aug. 22, 2025
Join industry leaders to explore how cutting edge digital technologies are transforming factories. Learn how to boost throughput, enhance flexibility, and accelerate your digital...
Aug. 22, 2025
Explore the future of manufacturing. Learn how to leverage the latest digital technologies and strategies to build a more efficient, agile, and resilient digital factory.
Aug. 21, 2025
A look into the latest improvements in motion control through high-performance drives, AI enhancements, and faster communication protocols.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Machine Design, create an account today!