Google launches Accessible Search

20 July 2006 19:34 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Google has launched a new variant of its search engine aimed at users who are looking for minimal distraction.

Called the Google Accessible Search, the search adds a small twist to the familiar Google search and finds the most relevant results as measured by Google's search algorithms, but also sorts results based on the simplicity of their page layouts. So when users search from the site, they'll receive results that are prioritized based on their usability.

According to Google, the search function, looks at a number of signals by examining the HTML markup found on a web page and favours pages that degrade gracefully - that is, pages with few visual distractions, and pages that are likely to render well with images turned off.

Google Accessible Search is built on Google Co-op's technology, which improves search results based on specialised interests.

Google say that the technology is still an early-stage experiment and therefore still within its Google Labs area on its site, however should help visually cited web surfers alongside those keen for information over page design.

Full tags

Software, Online, Search engines, Google