The other challenge is creating the web of objects. Yahoo plans to do it with software algorithms but also using "the wisdom of crowds." Specifically, it will use data provided through its SearchMonkey project, which encourages site owners to provide structured data about the content on their Web sites.

Still, building the web of objects is a long-term effort and will apply to only a fraction of search queries to begin with. "This is going to take years" to complete, Raghavan said.

The new search layouts are being tested with a small sample of Yahoo users. If the testing goes well, they'll be rolled out widely in two to three months, said Larry Cornett [cq], vice president for consumer products in Yahoo's search group.