Google and the MEMEX machine?

This annoucement from Google might bring us one step closer to Vannevar Bush's MEMEX machine. It is now possible to store years of search activity and cross reference these to other similar searches (performed by you or someone else). This will, of course, be used to 'customise' the 'search experience' making it more useful (and 'pleasurable' one might say!)

Of course the conspirators will love this - there are all the usual ill-at-ease arguments about surveilence and data gathering - but it doesn't really surprise, perhaps only that it has taken Google this long to release it. I'm sure they've had this tracking ability for a long time.

I'm going to do some searching.