Google Search to be overhauled

Google is giving its tried-and-true Web-search formula a makeover as it tries to fix the shortcomings of today's technology and maintain its dominant market share, The Wall Street Journal writes.

Over the next few months, Google's search engine will begin spitting out more than a list of blue Web links. It will also present more facts and direct answers to queries at the top of the search-results page.

The changes to search are among the biggest in the company's history and could affect millions of Web sites that rely on Google's current page-ranking results. At the same time, they could give Google more ways to serve up advertisements.

According to Google search executive Amit Singhal, Google Search will work more like “how humans understand the world”, NDTV states.

So, if a user searches “what is the number of lakes in Nainital”, Google might just give them the answer rather than showing the usual list of Web sites.

The company's search engine already gives out answers to easier questions like calculations, currency conversions or theatre timings, but the upcoming makeover will take it to an all-new level.

The search overhaul would also be another hurdle for Microsoft Bing, Google's biggest search competitor, Albawaba reveals.

While Bing has held steady in the search market, it hasn't been able to make much headway against Google's dominance.