In recent past you might have seen lots of Google experiments with layouts. Today I came across a new product in Google Labs called Google Experimental ^[1]. As the title suggests Google Experimental is a product which experiments with various layouts for Google Search, along with that they also have new search features such as Timeline Views, Keyboard Shortcuts for search results, Left hand search navigation and right hand site navigation.

The most mentionalble feature is the Timline View search which allows you to get search results based on timelines. Timeline search allows you to see results in a heirarichal manner. For eg. Using the Timeline view search I did a search for Bill Gates, the results were based on timelines from the day he was born to him setting up microsoft and so on.

The results are grouped based on decades. Check screen shot below.

^[2]

The other noteworthy features is the keyboard shortcuts which allows you to quickly navigate through the search results. Those who use Gmail keyboard shortcuts may already know how much simpler it makes your life.

Current keyboard shortcuts that are supported are

• J – Selects the next result
• K – Selects the previous result
• O – Opens the selected result
• <Enter> – Opens the selected result
• / - Puts the cursor in the search box
• <Esc> – Removes the cursor from the search box

Those these shortcuts are great, I would still like to have another shortcut which will allow me to open results in a new tab. Hoping that they can add that soon.

The Google Experimental ^[1] shows that they are not just about searching but making search much more better. That’s why Google search is the only one I use. Let’s hope they role out these features soon. What do you think about the Google Experimental? Let me know through your comments.

Update: Read the Official Google Blog ^[3] for more info.