by Sangeeta Deogawanka

Created on: December 02, 2010

Google Instant Previews is technology algorithms at its best, streaming live searches even before you have typed, with a preview of the webpage at the same time. Its ability to predict your searches real-time and an instant preview for a look-over, is yet another technological progression that personalises your online experience. With all-new caching systems, adaptive control of rate at which results show up and JavaScripts that optimize browser results, Google Instant Preview aims at being exactly what it says, prediction of search query and an instant preview of the web page.

Even as it rolls out in phases, as a work-in-progress, following the introduction of Google Instant in September, this can be tried out in Google Labs today. Albeit, some analysts term this as a reaction to the Bing-Facebook tie-up, nevertheless Google Instant Preview can continue to capture the lion share, with its time-saver tools that do away with chasing of irrelevant links. Moreover, it is built on the premise that you are more likely to spend time browsing the results, than leaving the browser to go to the website itself. Which translates into more time spent on Google. 

The thumbnail image of the page allowing a preview of the link prior to clicking, is more like taking a sneak preview before clicking on the link. However the functionality is still obscure and users need to be more Instant Preview aware to fully utilise the tools given. 

Although touted as a speedier search tool, saving time while giving a preview of the webpage, the presumptive styled search maybe considered more of a complex layer on what was hitherto a user-friendly search interface. So what does Google make use of to render an 'instant' search display? 

To begin with, the use of JavaScript embedded in Google Analytics to derive predicted results, is what aids instant searches that could however be pretty much skewed. Although, there is a provision to turn 'off' the same, this has website designers worried, as the entire SEO map built along current logistics plays discordant tunes.

Secondly, Google analyses the search progression of the user to predict the best results. It works on the premise that a user wants to save time with 'instant' results. So each 'instant' search shows up a preview of the current page, complete with text, graphics and option to move your cursor anywhere on the thumbnail image. 

However, the magnified at-a-glance preview, may only be of use when a user is undecided

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