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Google’s search engine will soon move to a ‘Universal Search Model’ and the search giant has announced its first step in that direction. According to Google, the Universal Search Model is designed to offer users a more integrated way to search for and view information online. Google has also introduced an updated homepage design and several new navigation features in the first phase of the transition.
Representatives say Google will attempt to ultimately search across all its content sources, compare and rank all the information in real time, and deliver a single, integrated set of search results. The company will incorporate information from a variety of previously separate sources including videos, images, news, maps, books, and websites into a single set of results.
Although the switch of the universal model may be subtle at first, over time, users will recognize additional types of content integrated into their search results. Users no longer have to visit several different Google search properties to find information on a particular topic.
Marissa Mayer, vice president of search products and user experience at Google said, “Our focus has always been making our users’ search experience as simple and straightforward as possible. The ultimate goal of universal search is to break down the silos of information that exist on the web and provide the very best answer every time a user enters a query. While we still have a long way to go, todays announcements are a big step in that direction.”
Google is also currently deploying a new technical infrastructure and is releasing the first stage of an upgraded ranking mechanism, designed to automatically compare different types of information. According to the new model, instead of links above the Google.com homepage search box, users will see a navigation bar on the top left side of the page with various Google search properties and popular products including Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs and Spreadsheets, and Picasa Web Albums.
In addition, the company has also announced a new version of its search service called Google Experimental, available on Google Labs. The new test site aims to provide users with an opportunity to try out some of the latest search experiments and innovations and provide Google with feedback.
More information on Google Experimental search is available here.
Image Courtesy: AP
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