Google Fade and User Experience = Wait For It!
While searching today, I noticed an odd occurrence on Google’s homepage. No, not your personal iGoogle page, just the regular web search starting page that not too long ago, epitomized the simplicity and unclutteredness Google is known for. In all reality, it still is one of my most favorite homepages of all time. So whats new?
You know those “Find the Difference” games? Try this on!
Versus…
(You can click on the screen shots for a better look.)
So do you see the difference?
If you haven’t noticed it by now, the Google search homepage is now waiting to add your account info, links to other features, and even the About Us or Advertising links, until you’ve moused over the site, or at least have taken some kind of further action. Basically, you’re given the logo, a text box, and the phrase, “Press Enter to Search.” Interesting huh? Once you have moused into the page, all of the regular links come back. So what’s the deal?
<html onmousemove=”google&&google.fade&&google.fade()”>
So after some research.. I found this line to be a little intriguing. As a side note, if you haven’t taken the time to look through Google’s HTML and Javascript, you should. Any ways, after taking a look at this as well as thumbing through bits and pieces of adjoining Javascript, I started wondering what this Google Fade thing was… it this a stepping stone for something bigger? A test of some sort? Maybe it is purely an aesthetic thing, I don’t know.But it is kinda fun to guess!
My theory:
So there are a few parts to my theory, but the major junk of it revolves around Google Suggest. If you don’t know what Google Suggest is, go to Google, and start typing a search phrase. See those suggestions that Google thinks you’re looking for? That is Google Suggest.
Alright, that is all fine and good, but how does this relate to Google Fade? (Wow, if Google’s mission statement was to slap their name on products and services, they’ve definately succeeded) Take a look at the this entry over on the Google Blog. Some of the main topics Jonathan Effrat, David Kadouch and Matt Kulick talk about relate the the ease, speed, and personalization Google Suggest gives a user. What better way to emphasize this then to take all other forms of navigation out! More on this in a minute.
In addition they also touch on some really interesting features that are becoming more and more evident. If you’ll notice…
… when I started searching for Yelp, Suggest popped up more then highly qualified suggestions, but more importantly, stuck an actual result in there! I’m not kidding… If you type in yelp, and down arrow to the actual Yelp link, it will take you to the home page. Sorta a glimpse of ‘I’m Feeling Lucky’ in action I suppose.
Another interesting issue Effrat, Kadouch and Kulick speak towards in the inclusion of Paid Listing in the suggestions themselves! Whoa, I know! Go to their post and read it yourself. They have a screen shot. Think about that for a minute. What if, while you were typing your search query, the company you were looking for pops up automatically and you’re saved the trouble of being taken to those pesky search engine results pages? Annoying! (not really)
In addition to these ideas, Google Labs also reveal some interesting perspective. If you’re interested, take a look at the experiments and activities you can do in the Labs. Keyboard shortcuts… Accessibility. They’re continuing to look into and research even better ways people can search online, as well as on mobile devices.
So as Google Fade in all reality could be just a beautiful aesthetic the search engine wants to incorporate to make your searching experience calmer, understand that there are some key landmarks taking place. You know how Hulu.com MAKES you watch a commercial before you can watch your video? What if Google starts showing you pages of paid material before you can start resuming your search? Interesting to say the least!
Peace
You know who you are.