Yahoo has posted a sneak video preview of its new Search Pad feature.

Yahoo Search Pad helps users by attempting to determine the purpose of their search. Indicators such as time spent on a site and other search patterns help show whether a user is attempting to navigate a site, find specific information, or collect volumes of information on a single topic.

The note-taking application, built into Yahoo Search, automatically collects and saves information and links to sites as a user visits them. It appears on the upper-right hand corner of search results.

The video touts the application as a useful tool for planning vacations and shopping, as well as conducting academic research. The information is saved to users' Yahoo ID.

For example, if users are attempting research, it allows users to take notes, mark pages and return to their notes and pages later. Users can remove and edit notes and other information, e-mail the information to other users, and print out their notes.

"With Search Pad, you can keep your work organized and you don't need to keep re-finding things," the video narrator explains.

The video says Yahoo Search Pad simplifies planning and research and urges users to "Give it a try."

A new Yahoo help page devoted to the application explains more about how it works and provides sample pages so users can get a feel for it. The layout of the Search Pad window resembles Google search results pages.

By Wednesday afternoon, nearly 2,500 people had viewed the video demonstration, which was posted late Tuesday evening.