Software distinguishes between online namesakes

Scouring the web for someone with a common name could become easier with software that automatically distinguishes between individuals by analysing the details of search results.

The software tool, developed by researchers at the University of Tokyo in Japan, picks apart the results of a search engine query, identifying unique identities within these results. For example, it can tell the difference between Michael Jackson the pop singer and a travelling beer expert of the same name, who also appears on the first page of results produced by Google.