Google Search Squared

The Internet is a vast and wonderful compendium of knowledge.  But it is not always easy to get the information you need, especially if that information is spread out over multiple websites.  Google has been working on a tool to help:  Google Squared, a new feature just released in Google Labs.

Google Squared is an experimental search tool that collects facts from the web and presents them in an organized collection, similar to a spreadsheet. If you search for [roller coasters], Google Squared builds a square with rows for each of several specific roller coasters and columns for corresponding facts, such as image, height and maximum speed.

Essentially, it is the ability to create more structured searches on the order of Wolfram|Alpha.  I have been meaning to take a closer look at Wolfram|Alpha but have just been too caught up in the end of the reporting year for CLE in Minnesota!  I am definitely going to have to carve out some time for that.  But the fact that you have several of these structured search solutions coming out, from heavy hitters, and getting good tech buzz tells me that this is the direction that search is headed, and it makes sense.

Google has prepared a video explaining how it works:

I can see this being tremendously valuable to attorneys.  In discovery or investigating you are often looking for far flung bits of information.  Google Squared can help gather that information and form it into more easily readable tables.  In testing it out it struck me that Google Squared has a lot of potential but that it is difficult to harness it to get the results you want.  I am not sure if that is a function of Google Squared being in an early release, experimental stage, as others have noted, or simply that I am not entirely getting the concept.  I suspect it is a mix of both.  I am seeing enough potential here, however, that I think tech savvy lawyers should keep their eyes on it.

I would love to hear if you have been experimenting with Google Squared a how you have found it helpful (or unhelpful).  Please leave a comment!

- Peter H. Berge

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