Did a (very) perfunctory search on this but came up with naught.
http://www.google.com/experimental/
Shows 3 experiments running:
1. Alternate views for search results; 2. Keyword suggestions; 3. Keyboard shortcuts
I think there used to be as many as 5 running, although I don't know if everyone could see them. According to http://searchengineland.com/071129-092512.php, they were:
* Alternate views for search results
* Keyword suggestions
* Keyboard shortcuts
* Left-hand search navigation
* Right-hand contextual search navigation
Also, the same article mentions the feature where users can order results by signing-up at the (still-running) experiment here: http://www.google.com/experimental/a840e102.html
I am mainly curious as to what happened to people in the last two experiments of the 5 listed above. Did Google turn it off for them, or did they just prevent new people from joining the experiment in the hopes of getting more concentrated usage stats for the ones remaining open for sign-up?
I believe Google could be running more and more of these experiments and releasing usability/behaviour/accessibility data and best-practices. I would like to participate in as many of these experiments as possible in as many contexts as would be useful.
The problem is that I don't have the time actively manage when I'll switch experiments, or to monitor when new ones are available. Also, I would like it much better if the current experimental feature were available across all versions of Google's TLDs, not just at Google.com. (Not to say you can't run experiments from, e.g., Google.ca, just that you can be enrolled in different experiments depending on the TLD and it is confusing at times.)
I'm probably not even close to taking into account all the variables necessary to make the right suggestion in this area, but I'll tell you what I'd like to see anyway. 1. Allow me to sign up once for GoogExp 2. Auto-cycle through the experiments every two-weeks (or whatever) so that I can do them all as naturally as going to Google.com. 3. Access to that usage data. (Yeah, right!)
*Also, haven't tested this anywhere else, but in Firefox/2.0.0.12 the experiment "Keyword Suggestions" doesn't seem to be working. |
I've been using the left hand navigation, and it just stopped working for me. |
Philipp noticed this and emailed me earlier today too. I wonder whether this means they've just scrapped the experiments or started to move them into production... |
