Google pushes out a new functionality called Google Instant. For the techies: Can you imagine the extra load created by more requests on Google servers?

When I noticed the feature, I was shocked at how fast it responded to my queries. This post explains some of the benefits in instant search results. However, as a developer, I was left craving more info on the “15 new technologies” used in this feature.

Technology WOW

• I was able to recognize an AJAX cache mechanism in the URL hash that allows users to bookmark the suggested terms.
• The near instant results scalability achieved by Google is near impossible, at the moment, for most high traffic search providers. I can only imagine the bandwidth headaches Bing.com will face when trying this.
• The Enter Key Abandonment is definitely an improvement in Search technology. While working on a recent auto-complete project, I realized the tremendous load of querying an e-commerce search engine. Bringing this technology into the e-commerce scope would really benefit shoppers. Picture Amazon’s home page updating as you type “Leica S2-” or “Canon 50.” You could find and buy exactly what you need without ever hitting enter.

Hmmm… I wonder

• I wonder if the study on Speed of Typing vs Visual Scanning includes those who look at the keyboard while typing. This would seriously disprove the advantages of scanning results as you type.
• How will those with throttled internet access handle the multiple queries per second?
• Does SEM get affected by this functionality?