Google Instant Search: Old News?

Posted by Luc in Uncategorized      56 comments

Sep
10

Last week, Google released its new instant search function, which basically shows you search results as you type your query into the search bar. Considering that billions of search results are attainable through a simple Google search, this kind of idea is quite groundbreaking. Or is it?

Hasn’t YouTube been doing this for quite some time now? I specifically remember looking up the “Goat Yells Like Man” video last summer on the popular video site, and having the title come up under the search bar as soon as I had typed the word Goat.

Alright, I understand it is quite impressive for Google to be able to do it, considering how far the search engine can actually reach via its spider track technology. But what surprised me was how excited the online community was by this, and how impatient it made everyone seem. Is it really so hard to wait until you’re done typing your search to see what results come up? Mashable.com founder and CNN Columnist Pete Cashmore has his own take on the issue, labeling the latest tool as “real time web” technology.

“If relevant information is delivered to us without extra effort, why type words into a box?If relevant information is delivered to us without extra effort, why type words into a box?” says Cashmore on CNN.

In time, the instant search will likely turn out to be quite useful, especially if users are exactly sure of what or who they are looking for. It’s all part of the acceleration of the internet, and up there with real time news updates on mobiles and the abolition of print. But Cashmore predicts an even scarier fate for the evolution of Google searching.

“What if instead of guessing your intent while you search, Google could predict your needs before you search?”

Scary stuff. Google has become self aware.