Digg Google?

It appears that Google Labs is testing a new-fangled search page where users can “vote” on all those links that pop up after a keyword query.  You can click “like” or “don’t like” and then this moves the voted rating up and down – Just like Digg.

This Google experiment only works on your browser and will not influence other Googelites, so when it recognises one of your search words your preferred sites will be returned.

“This experiment lets you influence your search experience by adding, moving, and removing search results,” Google explains. “When you search for the same keywords again, you’ll continue to see those changes. If you later want to revert your changes, you can undo any modifications you’ve made.”

The page also includes a “Know of a better webpage?” link, where you can recommend additional links. Again, these changes will pop up the next time you search on the same keyword. Naturally, you’ll need a Google account, and you’ll have to be logged in for all this to work.

My question is, how useful is this?  If you’re searching for something, I’m guessing you haven’t come across it before.  If you like what you’ve found you’d bookmark it.

But as it has been pointed out to me this experiment could be elaborated upon. Google could in fact use your votes to influence search results across the web in that Web 2.0 stylee.

Word of this experiment has popped up here, but it’s not open to the web at large. According to a Google spokeswoman, only a “small percentage of people” were invited to participate. But even for these folks, it will be available for “a few weeks” only.

News lifted from The Register