What Is Google Squared Anyway?
Google Squared is a new way to search on Google and here is a simple tutorial to navigate this new form of search. Google Squared takes search results and displays them in a grid format with columns and rows. For example, a search for “Ed Helms Movies” returns a grid where each row represents an Ed Helms movie. Each column offers details about that particular movie like director, genre, and movie runtime. The Hangover is amazing by the way. Go see it right now. I digress.
Similarly, you can run a search for “Red Sox Players” and see each player’s DOB, which way they bat, and where they went to college.
The two powerful ways to use Google Squared are:
- Quick research tool
- Shopping comparison engine
Quick Research
As demonstrated in the above examples, Google Squared can work as a research tool. If you want a quick comparison of all the types of clouds you can get that. If you want to compare basketball teams you can do that as well. It provides an easy to read grid for instant comparisons.
Shopping Comparison Engine
Just as you can compare types of clouds and Red Sox players, you can also compare products. Run a query for “mid sized cars” and Google Squared will display a list of mid sized cars along with their description, engine, year, and price. You can run a search for this for any type of product.
Google Squared: What Else Can You Do?
- Diving Deeper – Clicking on one of the grid attributes will bring you to the URL of the search result so you can go straight to the source of information.
- Customize Your Google Square – By clicking on the “Add Columns” box in the upper right corner, you can add your own columns of information. Google Squared will then search its database for the information you requested. The picture below demonstrates how you can add suggested attributes or create your own.
- Add To The Given Search Results – Google Squared will only give you so many results at first. You can see more results by clicking on the “Add next 10 items” link in the bottom left hand corner.
- Hybrid Google Square – You can start with a blank square and compare anything you want. In the below example I started with a blank square and added “Obama,” “Sublime,” and “iphone.” The result gave me a photo and description of each. You can start an empty square by clicking on the link at the bottom right hand corner “Start with an empty square.” I realize that was painfully obvious, but this is a tutorial after all I can’t assume. You know what happens when people assume things.
- Save Squares – If you are signed into your Google account, you can save a Google Square for future viewing.
Google Squared is still in the labs so it has a long way to go. I’d like to see some added features eventually such as paid search ads included in some results. I’m sure they will get to this if Google Squared takes off. Also, some of the results could improve. For example, if you search for "Lebron James" and add a column for points per game it won’t give you anything. Yet another way to search for information that could take off. I will keep you updated with any new information.
Google Squared appears to be similar to my patent application:
Frankly, I am getting a Déjà vu effect while going through the “Google Squared” application because it appears to be very similar in function to my United States patent application which was filed on April 12, 2007 and as publicly disclosed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on October 16, 2008, when the patent application was published.
My patent application is titled as “Method And System For Research Using Computer Based Simultaneous Comparison And Contrasting Of A Multiplicity Of Subjects Having Specific Attributes Within Specific Contexts” bearing Document Number “20080256023” and Inventor name “Nair Satheesh” which may be viewed at http://patft.uspto.gov/ upon Patent Applications: Quick Search.
Google Squared appears to be using at least some if not many of the same methods and systems as set forth by me more than two years ago in my patent application. In fact there are many more methods and systems disclosed in my patent application which I believe will help resolve certain inaccuracies found in current Google Squared application.
I have issued legal notices to Google through my Patent Attorney in the US but Google has not responded yet to any of my notices.