Last week, Dr. Pete at Moz posted Future SERP: A Glimpse at Google 2014. What he did was look at a bunch of the more recent Google interface tests, many we have been covering at our Google user interface category and asked, are these going to be the future of Google's search results by the end of 2014.
I've been tracking Google interface changes manually for almost ten years now. From large navigational color and interface changes to small changes to where the cache link appears in the search results.
One thing I've learned that while some tests do make it to a final release, the majority of these tests I spot do not. When you see the test come up more and more, the likelihood of that test becoming a reality improves. But it isn't always a sure bet, especially with Google.
In any event, it is always fun to see these tests and it is important to know how these new layouts can impact your traffic to your site. So it is important to stay on top of them and plan for the unexpected.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
Image credit to BigStockPhoto for sliding screens