Google Universal Search and Experimental

Google has put up a new test bed for their search service called Google Experimental, on Google Labs. It gives users an opportunity to try out some of the latest search experiments happening inside Google.

Google wants users to try the new interface or feature before putting it on their main site. Currently, you can try four different layouts: timeline/map view, keyboard shortcuts, left-hand search navigation, and right-hand contextual search navigation.

First, the timeline, map view lets you see search results on map or timeline. Google’s smart algorithm extracts key dates and location and then plots it on map or timeline. For instance, you can search for nanotechnology in history or see the locations of Olympics on a Google Map.

Keyboard Shortcuts allows quick and easy navigation through search results. They’ve placed a small ‘>‘ indicator near each search result, you can jump to the next result by pressing J, similarly, pressing K will skip to the previous result and pressing O or Enter will open the result. Left-hand, right-hand search navigation allows users to refine the search results on the left or right hand side of the search results.

Google Universal Search: Along with Experimental, Google has also introduced layout changes on their main search site. Google Universal Search will try to put up videos, images, news, books and websites on the same results page. We’ve already seen Google testing this new interface.

Unfortunately for those who are not in favor of the new Universal Search, there is no option to switch back to the plain old design.