Google Inc’s search engine now displays results before users finish typing. The new technology dubbed Google Instant can shave two seconds to five seconds off every Internet search Google said on Wednesday and could entice users to search more on its website. And with competition increasing from Internet rivals such as Microsoft Corp Yahoo Inc and Facebook the technology gives Google new ammunition to tout its advantages to web surfers and online advertisers. To our knowledge no one has provided search as you type to their users, said Marissa Mayer, Google’s vice president of search and user experience on the sidelines of an event announcing the product at San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art on Wednesday.
According to Google, a typical searcher spends nine seconds entering a query, and 15 seconds searching for answers. Google hopes to shave two to five seconds per search using Google Instant. Google claims that Instant won’t considerably slow down Internet connections, because the amount of data delivered for search terms is relatively small, and because the system only sends parts of the page that change when more typing alters a search result. For connections that are already slow, Google Instant automatically turns off, and users can also shut off the service through their user preferences or by clicking the drop down box to the right of the search bar. Google Instant works in Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer 8 and Safari.
New technologies such as the specialized applications that run on Apple Incs iphones and fast growing Social networking services such as Facebook are also threaten to undermine Google s position as the main gateway to online information
Google executives said the new Google Instant technology would not change the order in which its search engine ranks results. Google Inc co-founder Sergey Brin launched the new Google Instant during a launch event in San Francisco on Wednesday. The new technology which was made available in the United States on Wednesday means Google’s search engine can serve up a local weather forecast as soon as a user types the letter W 1n the search box for instance If the user continues typing a word other than weather into the search box the results on the page instantly refresh and change accordingly
Google already offered a feature that suggested popular search queues as a user typed a word 1n the search box but the new feature actually delivers a complete page of search results as a search term is being typed. Analysts said the new technology could help Google the world’s No 1 search engine further increase its market share. Analyst Jordan Rohan called Google Instant a potential game changer that competitors will have a hard tune replicating.
Benefits of Google Instant
Faster Searches: By predicting your search and showing results before you finish typing, Google Instant can save 2-5 seconds per search.
Smarter Predictions: Even when you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for, predictions help guide your search. The top prediction is shown in grey text directly in the search box, so you can stop typing as soon as you see what you need.
Instant Results: Start typing and results appear right before your eyes. Until now, you had to type a full search term, hit return, and hope for the right results. Now results appear instantly as you type, helping you see where you’re headed, every step of the way.