Google new search interface uses soft blue highlighting

[Nuttakorn]

Today I found new improvement of Google search result from Google.com, It highlights each listing with soft-blue color when you do mouse-over. This is interest that Google adding more interactive. This may use for increasing the ranking signal and user feedback study for them.

[edited by: tedster at 4:32 pm (utc) on Oct 11, 2010]
[edit reason] member requested edit [/edit]

[tedster]

Could you say more about the possibility of a ranking signal here?

[Nuttakorn]

Google has filed the patent of "System and Method for Modulating Search Relevancy Using Pointer Activity Monitoring", was filed on February 16 2005, as Google currently used click-through rates (CTR) as signal. The new patent takes the idea a step further, looking to reorder search results by monitoring when users show interest in web content without actually clicking on it.

What do you think about this? I think it becomes more signals on user feedback and social beside currently strong signal on links.

[tedster]

I see - so your idea is they woould monitor a longer pause over a given result - something like the way they now measure a 3 second pause in typing with Google Instant and Adwords impressions.

Yes, it does make sense that Google would check out the signal to see how noisy it is.

[rustybrick]

Are you sure this isn't the "page previews" thing?

Do you see a magnifying glass on the right side of each search result?

[Nuttakorn]

No, this is standard search. I think Google testing the Full Page Preview on standard search with this testing. Google keeps testing many new interface.