Google Instant Previews Homes In on Users Search Targets

by Clint Boulton

Google Instant shows these results for “hiking in Yosemite.” But what if you want to drill down further into the results without actually clicking on them?

Instant Previews captures the essence of gleaning more information before you commit to that click. Users simply click the magnifying glass to pop out the visual search.

Note the pop-out to the right. When you find a result you like, mouse over it and the preview pops out.

Call-outs with words from the keyword search are highlighted in orange.

Instant Previews also offers multiple call-outs where relevant keywords appear.

Even if a relevant highlight is at the bottom of a long page, Instant Previews will display it higher so users can find it.

Need a map? Instant Previews will provide one where relevant if you ask for it in your query.

Instant Previews also surfaces tables, charts and lists where appropriate.

This tool is especially useful for previewing song lyrics without making you click on them first.

Instant Previews lets users find people with common names without clicking around. Raj Krishnan is a common name, Google says, but here the searcher wants to find the Raj who happens to be a Google search product manager.