Google’s launch of their Universal Search feature has brought forth quite a variety of commentary on TechMeme.
Don Doge isn’t too sure if Google’s “new” Universal Search feature will survive. As he points out, he’s seen it before. Ten years back when he worked at Alta Vista. Their effort to merge media types into their search results ultimately was dropped. Will Google meet the same fate?
Of course, this was ten years ago. Don’s correct: Times have changed. But it’s not only that–rarely are two implementations the same. The expression of the idea can make a huge difference and is almost always unique. Not only this, but the DNAs of the different companies doing the engineering are different. By way of example, Microsoft likes blue. Google likes sparseness. Microsoft is database focused. Google is index minded. Try as they might to build the “same thing” I doubt they could. That’s what makes the industry so interesting. As companies build their products, they learn from themselves, their users, and their competitors and refine in a never-ending cycle.
His comment that Google’s Universal Search isn’t “all that” because it’s been done before is on par with those that argue that an idea isn’t worthwhile because it’s time is not yet. (I particularly love it when a single idea or product gets challenged from both of these directions at the same time. These are classic arguments. The goal of an innovator though is to stay focused on the current balanace of practicalities and where the trends are going.)
Pundits aside, the real test will be in how the search results get used. Will people stick to the text links in their search results? My guess is that many will, but a growing number won’t. Why? Because more and more people are becoming comfortable with viewing videos online. Part of the changeover is due to better broadband connections. Part of the changeover is due to browser hosted video players that just work. Part of the changeover is because it’s getting easier for people to create video content–whether from a cell phone or digital video camera.