Could Google work fast enough to change search results as you type? Apparently so, as reports came flooding in the other day after people noticed the SERPS changing at amazing speed. According to Neowin,
“SEO consultant Rob Ousbey spotted the change and recorded a video of the new-look page, using a screen capture tool.”
Techcrunch talked to Gabriel Stricker, Google spokesperson:
“At any given time we are running between 50-200 search experiments. You can learn more on our blog.”
According to GeekOSystem:
“Google would not comment as to whether there was any kind of timetable for releasing this feature to the general public.”
Mashable described it best:
Google is testing a feature that displays live-updating search results as you type your search query, no keystroke on “Enter” or “Return” required.
“When you start typing, the search box is relocated to the top of the site. Results are changed to match what you type as you go, kind of like a Firefox page search, Spotlight on the Mac, or Windows 7’s “Search programs and files” field in the start menu….Update: Sources including the Google Operating System blog have referred to this as Google ‘streaming’ the search results. Indeed, you can see in the video that they offer a link to ‘Turn off streaming.’”
While some wonder how the stream might affect advertisers (can you really make it fair if an ad is only shown for a split second as the screen flashes through changes? it must be remembered that this is still in beta and Google is testing various ideas.