Google launches customisable search feature

by Jennifer Whitehead, Brand Republic 21-Nov-08, 12:20

LONDON - Google has launched a new feature dubbed Search Wiki, which allows users to rearrange and customise search results.

The feature will only be available when a user is signed in with their Google account and will not affect the way other users receive search results.

The idea is for users to be able to customise searches they may frequently use. For example, if someone searches for cinema listings in their city and they can make a preferred site always come first in the search results -- even if it usually comes further down the list in the natural search.

It also lets users add URLs for sites they would like to show up in the search in future, and to remove results that they are not interested in.

Another feature allows users to make notes on sites, also stored for future searches.

Two of the engineers behind the project, writing on the Google Blog, said: "The changes you make only affect your own searches. But SearchWiki also is a great way to share your insights with other searchers.

"You can see how the community has collectively edited the search results by clicking on the 'See all notes for this SearchWiki' link."

Comments

Sarah Farrow - 21/11/2008

This is a great feature for users, but a point to consider is if this will be used to gather information and that used to serve results to non-Google Account holders?

Eliska Dobson - 21/11/2008

That is a great idea. Google is such an innovative business and if they carry on like this they will sure keep the lead in their market ...

Dave Stoker - 21/11/2008

Agreed. Internet users are not particularly loyal beings - if someone comes up with a search that's better than google, they will use it - but with innovative developments like this, they have little to worry about.