Yahoo tests Search Pad to ease online research

Yahoo Search Pad lets you keep track of pages uncovered dearing what Yahoo technology determines is a research session. (Click to enlarge.)

(Credit: Yahoo)

As part of its effort to invigorate its search engine, Yahoo has begun testing a new project called Search Pad designed to detect when you've begun in-depth research and help you keep track of your results.

Yahoo Search Pad keeps track of search query terms used at the site and, when it detects a trend, offers to save the result in an online document. If you take its advice, it shows you a page already populated with the Web sites you've visited on the subject.

Through the Web-based application, you can annotate results, delete pages you don't like, and reorder the ones you do. And when you copy text in from other Web sites you didn't reach through Yahoo search, the application automatically looks up their Web address and adds it in.

"It's our hope that the people doing research with Yahoo are able to be more effective. That may drive more engagement or drive them to come back more often," said Larry Cornett, vice president for product for Yahoo Search.

Yahoo has begun publicly testing the service, but only with a small, randomly-selected fraction of its users, the company said, and the service should be enabled for all users in coming months.

When Yahoo's technology thinks you're conducting relatively in-depth research, it will suggest you begin a Search Pad on the subject.

(Credit: Yahoo)

[Jonnygthedrummer]

neat

[flickrz]

awesome!!

[LuvThatCO2]

This is an excellent idea, Yahoo!!!!!

[seven7dust]

perfect ! great idea Yahoo !!!
looks like the new CEO is doing a good job

[tomnews2001]

I already use a search program that is great to use - it's called COPERNIC AGENT from www.copernic.com - it is a free program to search the net and it saves all your searches. Give it a try as I have no problem with it at all.

[LarryBurns]

It sounds like a neat tool, but it probably won't help them much in their quest to take down Google. Most people don't even look past the first few results [http://blog.findingdulcinea.com/2009/01/announcing-sweetsearch-a-more-selective-search-engine.html], so they don't even have a use for this tool.

[crisfrankel]

Isn't this the same type of thing that the Google toolbar does with visited pages?
http://webhosting.reviewitonline.net

[Grahambo]

I think it is slightly different than the Google version. The app for planing trips is very helpful for planning trips and business arrangements. For more information and a review check this out...

http://www.expertsem.com/2009/07/07/new-yahoo-feature-search-pad/

[gadget-girl]

Thanks for the writeup Stephen! This is Laura from Yahoo. I just wanted to let you guys know there is an easy URL if anyone is interested in tinkering with, learning more about and/or keeping up with Yahoo! Search Pad here: http://searchpad.yahoo.com.
Hope you have fun with it! :)