Google May Use Mouse Movements to Influence Search Rankings

How Google decides what sites come up first on any given search is a closely-guarded secret, a formula that changes regularly to keep people from gaming the system. But it may get a lot harder to predict.

A new patent filed by Google on Tuesday would allow Google to analyze information about where on a page users hover their mouse cursor, presumably showing the search giant what people were sort of interested in by didn't actually click through on.

It's a crazy idea, one that may have some merit. But then again, it may not. If you're doing any typing, for example, the chances are good that your cursor is just left in some random spot on your screen. Does that really mean anything? If anyone can derive some usable info from what is sure to be an insane glut of data, it's Google.