Google aims to get browser users' eyeballs onto more ads

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 10:02

Business IT - Networking

Google has come up with a means of getting we users to view more advertisements promoting goods and services related to their interests: Google Relate.

Google Relate is a new toolbar for Chrome (Windows only) and Internet Explorer that appears across the bottom of the page being viewed and shows content relevant to the content on the page being viewed.

According to a posting on Google's blog from Ran Ben-Yair, product manager, Google Related team in Google's Israel R&D centre, "Whether you're reading a news article, shopping for a new pair of shoes or visiting your favourite musician's website, Google Related works in the background to find you the most interesting and relevant content on the topics you're currently viewing. For example, if you visit a restaurant's website, Related can show you a map, reviews from Google Places, mentions from across the web and other similar eateries that you might want to try."

Results display in a thin bar at the bottom of the screen, and remain minimised until hovered over with the mouse. They then open in new windows. According to Be-Yair "In order to offering you relevant suggestions, Related sends the URL and other available information about the pages you visit back to Google. If you're interested in how that data is used and stored, you can learn more here [Google Related Chrome Extension Privacy Notice] and here [Google's privacy notice]."

Ben-Yair gave no information on exactly how Google Relate selects 'relevant' content such as how much it is influenced by a wish to get advertising content in front of the user.