Google: 3 New Experimental Views for Web Search

Back in May 2007, Google created an experimental search page to let its users try out some of the company's new ideas. "Alternate views", for example, allows the user to visualize their search results in new ways. The search giant seems to be constantly looking for different web search approaches in order to stay ahead of the competition. Users can opt-in to try the new ideas out, and take a survey to give the company feedback. Now, Google has introduced three additional views:

• Map view – This view plots the key locations contained in the user's search results onto a map. After scrolling or zooming the map, a user can click on the "Update Results" button near the top left corner of the map to show more results just in that area.
• Timeline view – This view plots key dates contained in the user's search results onto a timeline graph that has higher bars to represent a larger number of unique dates. Clicking anywhere on the graph allows the user to zoom in to that particular period of time. The user can also use a text box to the right to specify any range of years, months, or days.
• Info view – This view adds a control panel on the right side of the page that allows users to change what information is shown below each result. Usually this area displays some text from the page that includes a few of the words searched for, but this can be changed to reveal text containing dates, locations, measurements, or images.