Google Squared: Structured Results in a Grid Format

Google Squared is a new Google Labs experiment. No, it doesn't mean a Google search returned with results with relevance (squared), but rather results returned in a grid-like (spreadsheet-like) format, with columns representing different types of relevant (hopefully) data for the query, and rows representing results of the query.

Google Squared was first demonstrated at Google's Searchology event in May, and has now been released to the public. Click the above image for a look at the Planets sample query.

To me, it reminds me of the type of results you might get using a database query in a spreadsheet. For example, I might have a spreadsheet full of Presidential data, ask use database functions to return a list of Presidents including their birthdate as a column (this is an example query in Google Squared).

This is obviously very much a Labs experiment. There are many things I would love to see that (at least for now) are not available. You can add rows via an "add items" field at the bottom left that suggests things; you can also also columns via a "add columns" field at the right. You can also delete rows and columns, and save the resulting "square" if you are logged into Google services.

But you can't sort, either by dragging and dropping or (as in Excel) by setting up a data filter or data sort. So it's definitely a work in progress. Here's how Google describes Google Squared:

It essentially searches the web to find the types of facts you might be interested in, extracts them and presents them in a meaningful way.

This technology is by no means perfect. That's why we designed Google Squared to be conversational, enabling you to respond to the initial result and get a better answer. If there's another row or column you'd like to see, you can add it and Google Squared will automatically attempt to fetch and fill in the relevant facts for you. As you remove rows and columns you don't like, Google Squared will get a fresh idea of what you're interested in and suggest new rows and columns to add.

Watch a demo in the video below. To be honest, it's interesting, and something I'll play with, but I'm waiting for v2.