Google launches Instant streaming search

Google has announced a major change to its fundamental search technology in which results are delivered in real time as the user types.

Google Instant searches automatically and displays the results underneath the text box, as well as offering five predictions as to the object of the search. Scrolling down these predictions changes the search information for each one.

"This is a fundamental shift in search. The speed and ease with which people can find information has changed," said Marissa Meyer, Google's vice president of search products.

Google users spend an average of nine seconds typing a search query and 15 seconds considering the result, and Meyer claimed that Google Instant will greatly reduce this time.

The company has drawn up a blacklist of words that will not work for Instant searches. Sexual, violent or hate terms will not automatically produce results until Send has been pressed.

However, the system isn't perfect. One reporter at the press conference pointed out that her surname of Slutsky had not shown Instant results.

Google Instant will be available for registered users in the US immediately, and will be rolled out in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Russia next week.

More than one reader in the UK has contacted V3.co.uk already claiming to have the service ahead of schedule.

The technology will be built directly into the browser by this autumn, Meyer said, and a mobile version will come at the same time.

Google Instant will have an impact on Google's servers, as initially the number of searches undertaken by the software amounts to one for every letter.

However, the company said that it has managed to reduce this overhead significantly to bring the cost of the new service down.

The changes will not alter search engine optimisation significantly, Meyer s aid. Adverts will still be ranked the same way, and searches of under three seconds' duration will not be counted.