RTFA: http://labs.mozilla.com/2008/08/introducing-ubiqui…

we’re announcing the launch of Ubiquity, a Mozilla Labs experiment into connecting the Web with language in an attempt to find new user interfaces that could make it possible for everyone to do common Web tasks more quickly and easily.

The overall goals of Ubiquity are to explore how best to:

* Empower users to control the web browser with language-based instructions. (With search, users type what they want to find. With Ubiquity, they type what they want to do.)
* Enable on-demand, user-generated mashups with existing open Web APIs. (In other words, allowing everyone-not just Web developers-to remix the Web so it fits their needs, no matter what page they are on, or what they are doing.)
* Use Trust networks and social constructs to balance security with ease of extensibility.
* Extend the browser functionality easily.

The Ubiquity Firefox extension has changed the way I blog. I LOVE Quicksilver, which has completely transformed the way I interact with OS X… and I see Ubiquity as having the same effect on the way I browse the web, and on my access to keyword-indexed information.

There’s something special about using key entry to control movement through an interface. While I like assigning “keywords” to a bookmark in Firefox, and then mapping placeholders to a search query, this doesn’t scale up quickly enough. I’m happy with Sogudi and its Quicksilver integration, but I dislike the way in which the configuration interface is tied to Safari (since I use Firefox).

Enter Ubiquity. Okay – it’s not the end-all, be-all at the moment. However, it’s a significant step in the right direction. And yes: it has the potential.

Check out my screenshot. I just used the hotkey (I am using alt-space) and typed in “ubiquity”. This brings up a quick list of search results, wikipedia results, and a keyboard-controlled interface for “drilling down” into a specific search service. You can do some more interesting stuff too – just check out the site.

I am eagerly anticipating the next release!