Google Instant

Kirkpatrick, M. 2010, ‘This is Your Brain on Google Instant Search’, Read Write Web, accessed 9 September 2010

The internet and search engines like Google have trained us not to have to remember banal facts for ourselves ("I'll just Google it!"), and now the implementation of Google Instant has taken it a step further, with Google now suggesting what you may be searching for and displaying results for these suggestions as you type.

I tried using Google Instant and my brain exploded.

I tried using Google Instant and was overwhelmed by information. I did a test search on bluebirds; Google suggested the following in this order as I typed: best buy; blockbuster; blue book; blueberry pie; bluebird. Each time the Google results displayed for every suggestion, inundating my screen (and my mind) with information. I think it's an incredibly good visual demonstration of just how much information is out there, and we come to realise that maybe we don't need all of it.

Here is a fun little video shows Google Instant in action.

My exploration of Google Instant was triggered by reading this article on the possible effects that this new way of searching has on our brains. The article briefly discusses the two effects Google Instant might have on the way we think and search; it could either limit our brain function by spoon-feeding us what we may want to search, or stimulate it with its suggestions leading onto other routes. The article takes the more optimistic route in claiming that it Google Instant would more likely stimulate our brain, because of the interactivity that is involved in this new way to search. I tend to agree with this hypothesis, because judging from what I've seen of 'netizens' so far, we are rather savvy and know how to deal with and appropriately use whatever new technologies come our way.

However, I can't imagine a world where Google Instant will render traditional Googling obsolete; it will perhaps only exist as a subsidiary search method. And now that I've put that out there, I bet the internet will prove me wrong.