Publication Date

January 30, 2008

Perspectives Section

Perspectives Daily

Google search, love it or hate it, has become ubiquitous. And now, according to a post Monday on the Official Google blog, searching may be evolving. Google is experimenting with “alternate views for search results,” including timeline, map, and information views that should hopefully provide a better sense of context to the search results.

The timeline view allows users to filter search results by date, using either a timeline at the top of the page, or by typing in their own set of dates in a “set filter” box on the right side of the page.

Google Experimental Timeline View

Map view combines your search topic (for example “jazz”) with Google maps (where you put in your location). So with map view you can find “jazz” in “manhattan,” or “museums” in “washington, dc,” all laid out on a Google Map.

Google Experimental Map View

And finally, information view incorporates a more subtle change: a “control panel” on the right of the page that will change what is included in the text below your results. Clicking on any of the control panel terms (which include dates, measurements, locations, and images) will bring that material up beneath your result.

So if you’re finding that Google searching has lost its thrill, experiment with these different views today, and then let Google know how they work for you.

This post first appeared on AHA Today.

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