[crux]

Speaking from a UI standpoint, I find the leap of the bar from the middle to the top of the screen to be very disorienting. I know that the middle-of-the-page input field is a real visual trademark for Google, but if they want to push this feature, they might have to move the box up to where it is currently leaping.

[ugh]

You would have to test it but I think some sort of non-distracting animation could help (a quick fade-out and fade-in maybe – even if it’s only a few milliseconds long). Actually moving the search bar up with an animation would most certainly either take too long or be so fast as to be equally or even more jarring.

[Shakattack]

Agreed, even some smooth movement would make a difference - the jump is very sudden

[sukuriant]

I would prefer it if, when Google is in "instant" mode, the search bar is automatically on the top. Either that, or perhaps the search could just be shown at the bottom.

That said, the "jump" to the top is enough for me to disable the instant search. I've wanted to go back to it because it seems like a great idea, but that teleport to the top keeps confusing me, and those seconds of re-orientation negate the enhancements they intended to provide. This is my opinion based on my experience with it so far, of course.

[desigooner]

IMO, this change is a little distracting and annoying as far as my searches go. Putting that aside, a question that arises is how will this affect the user in terms of accessibility and screenreaders.. usually autofocusing to fields is not encouraged as far as accessibility is concerned.

[Sephr]

Maybe moving the search bar as soon as you focus it may be an adequate compromise.