Google Re-Unveils Personal Search
"Google has released a new version of Google Personalized Search, this time in a format intended to constantly monitor what people select from search results and shape future queries based on their choices.Below are some screenshots to get you going.The new service is linked to the My Search History feature that Google unveiled last April. Google Personalized Search uses My Search History data to refine your results based on your searching habits."
This is what the entry page of Google Personalized Search looks like. Note: you will need a free Google Account in order to sign in with this service; however, once you sign in to any of Google's properties, you've got all of them accessible. Which begs the question: what if you don't want to have Google's Personalized search turned on? You can easily opt out of it by clicking the "Turn OFF Personalized Search for these results" link on the search results page. NOTE: The screenshot I have here no longer seems to be up; I keep getting a 404 error page. However, Google's personalized search from the main home page of Google is fully functional.
This is what you'll see under the search box in Google now. In addition, the Personalized Search Help (Beta) Page is now up and running. A few points:
- This will improve your search results. Not right away, but eventually Google will build up a profile of sorts for you and your preferred searches. For example, if you type in "stock" and you're into Wall Street, Google will come back with money. But if you're more into cooking and chicken soup stock, then you'll get recipes. Eventually.
- This is not Big Brother. This personalized search is only accessible if you have signed in, so unless you're going around giving your name and password to everyone, I wouldn't worry. In addition, the information that Google is collecting from you is the following:
"...your search queries, the results you click on, and the date and time of your searches. Also, as stated in the main Google Privacy Policy, when you use any Google service, we collect additional information including your Internet Protocol address, browser type, browser language and one or more cookies that may uniquely identify your browser."
This sounds like a lot but it's really not. If you need more information, read Google's Search History Privacy FAQ.
From what I see so far, the personalized search incorporates the history of links you’ve found (and followed)and ranks them higher in later search results.
If you’re trying to shop for things, this may be OK, but if you’re trying to do research or find “objective” results, this type of “personalization” can be counter-productive.
Further, the TURNING OFF of this feature seems to be invokable only AFTER it’s already returned its skewed results. I can find no place where you can make the selection persistent (i.e. last until the next time you decide to change it).