Google gives search a Knowledge Graph makeover (screenshots)
Google has revamped its search with results that show more information from its 500-million-item database of people, places, and things. Google says this Knowledge Graph is the first step in search for the next generation.
Here's a search for Taj Mahal. It indicates that you're probably looking for information about the mausoleum in India but there are links to other things named Taj Mahal: the musician, gambling casino, etc.
Click on any image to enlarge.
On the right, you'll see basic information from Wikipedia that could save you a step and results for potential related searches and the next most popular things named Taj Mahal.
Here's a search on Matt Groening, creator of "The Simpsons" TV show.
On the right his biographical information shows the most interesting facts about him: His father's name is Homer, his mother's is Margaret (Marge?) and his sibling's name is Lisa.
Google uses a search for Leonardo da Vinci as an example of searching for Renaissance painters. Google theorizes that many people could be looking up Renaissance painters in general but search on da Vinci since he is the most famous. Therefore, they give easy links to other painters of the time.
Here's a simple search for Gates. You've got your main choices of Bill (most likely since he's on the right), fences, or the Gates Corporation.
The ads are not completely gone. They just start below the search results on the right - and in the middle, of course.
Google will help you refine results. In this case Kings give you immediate choices of a hockey team, basketball team or TV series.
Google shows how its seaches are interconnected in this example of renaissance painters.
Here's one for women who have won the Noble prize.
This promotional slide simply illustrates the point that Google has built a rich data set that understands the nouns that people search for. The company uses both human and algorithms to categorize things.