Dawn Chmielewski at Knight-Ridder Newspapers is reporting on an interesting new development in web search called “Watson”.

Watson is a contextual web search software program that delivers relevant web search results automatically to users based on the context of whatever they are currently working on.

Say, for instance, you are working on a Word document, PowerPoint presentation or other electronic document or program; Watson will search the web while you work for relevant results based on the subject and context of whatever you are currently working on.

It’s like having your own personal online research assistant. Elementary, my dear Watson. Elementary!

Unfortunately, there is no mention of a web site for the Watson web search program or an estimated date for the release of Watson.

You can read the entire article on the Watson web search program at Watson Advances Internet Search