Google unveiled several new search tools last week at their 2009 Search Event. Having reviewed some of their new tools, the following three features, summarized below, exemplify the changes search engine companies are going through as social and mobile media are taking on larger roles in the digital landscape.
Real Time Search- Google will begin incorporating time into its search results, meaning that the results that appear when you perform a search will automatically update as new and relevant information becomes available. This new feature will help integrate newly published blogs, Twitter feeds, and public status updates from Facebook and MySpace into search results. Google’s biggest challenge will be sorting through the information pulled and determining what information should appear at the top of the search query as being relevant, useful and quality.
Google Goggles- Users of an Android-powered mobile device will be able to search Google not only by typing in words, but also by pointing their mobile phone’s camera at an object and submitting the image as a search query. Based on the picture, Google will provide information on the object in its search results lists. For example, somebody who takes a picture of a watch will probably receive in their search results list information about the watch, the watch company, places to purchase the watch and reviews about the watch.
Favorite Places- Google will be sending to over 100,000 businesses around the country barcode decals to be posted in their storefront window. Mobile phone users will then be able to scan the barcode into their phone and will be taken straight to that business’s “Place Page”, a page created by Google that will list things such as store hours, reviews, coupons, and other information about the business.
Which of these new search tools are you most looking forward to? Which feature do you think will have the biggest impact on you or your business?