Google Announces Custom Search Transparency

[copywriter]

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/...ed-search.html

I'm sorry, but this is one Google feature that has long driven me nuts! It hoses up my searches by carrying over information from previous searches. I can see how this might help individual searchers, but G seems to have forgotten that tons of businesses do searches for completely unrelated queries all day long.

Because I write copy for all sorts of clients, most of my searches are unrelated in location or subject matter.

Is it messing up anybody else? Or do you find it helpful that G evaluates all the info from your searches and carries into the next search?

[radiogirl]

I hadn't noticed this feature, but that could severely mess things up in families where more than one person is accessing the computer on top of the aggravation you mentioned when researching for different clients.

We have three computers (so far) and we choose which one to work/play on depending on what's available...that could get confusing and annoying.

[St0n3y]

I've never seen a need for personalized results. It makes me feel like I lose control over the information I'm getting. almost like personalized propaganda. I'd rather see what everyone else sees and sort through it that way.

Do you have to be logged in for this to work?

[Logan]

I think you guys are spot on regarding the issue with personalized search. My own experiences are similar, with many searches being done for client research etc. This week I have friends in town. They have been using my computer, including google. When they search they don't log out of my account or associate their activity with their account. That just isn't realistic.

So I see the issue being that the current account based system is not a truly one to one relationship with search activity. The problem for Google, Yahoo and others I believe is that if they require someone to do something (for example login) things start to fall apart.

If personalized search requires the person to do something, then it is not going to work. The percentage that will is VERY small (<1%). If Google could figure out how to work around this, on their end entirely without the user having to do anything, then I think it may have some legs. That just isn't where we are at with the current approach though.

[redmascot]

I too would not like to have personalized results. Its like keeping track of my search patterns which is like breach of privacy.