The Yahoo! search blog this morning announced Instant Search, an Ajaxy search box that might best be described as an enhanced combination of Google Suggest, Google's "I'm Feeling Lucky" button, and an answer engine. As you type keywords, Yahoo! pops down a series of bubbles, each containing one search result that best matches your keyword in progress. Whereas Google Suggest completes keywords and indicates number of search results, Yahoo! Instant Search assumes the keyword and provides a result. In most cases the result is a Web site, but the engine is also capable of giving pure information, such as weather forecasts. However, it doesn't seem to be as knowledgeable as Google Q&A, which dives into external reference sources to deliver information.

Instant Search encourages s-l-o-w typing, so you don't miss any suggested results. A typical search proceeds as follows:

b - nothing
u - Boston University
d - Stock quote for BUD (Budweiser)
g - nothing
e - nothing
t - Budget Rent a Car

Just as I was wishing I could have this feature woven into regular Yahoo! Search, I noticed a link that, when you're signed into Yahoo!, puts Instant Search into the main Yahoo! search page. It doesn't add a tab to the page; it just lurks within, popping down result bubbles as you type.

Cool as Instant Search is, the unfortunate result is the further consolidation of Web traffic to sites owning the highest page rank and biggest brand. that won't stop me from using it, but I'd like to see more reference answers presented in this format, and shift the emphasis away from Website results. In other words, make it a better version of Google Q&A, not a better version of "I'm Feeling Lucky."