Using Django with the django-piston project (link below) enables you to create a very easy web REST-based API.
Using the javascript library jQuery and delving into its copious amount of plugins (autocomplete example link below) would enable you to have a responsive AJAX interface for a text-entry box.
You wouldn't need django-piston to get the AJAX aspect of what I mention above to work, but it somewhat simplifies getting results in a JSON format, and allows you to easily add in new API calls at a later date with its familiar format (well, familiar once you get used to it).
Using the javascript library jQuery and delving into its copious amount of plugins (autocomplete example link below) would enable you to have a responsive AJAX interface for a text-entry box.
You wouldn't need django-piston to get the AJAX aspect of what I mention above to work, but it somewhat simplifies getting results in a JSON format, and allows you to easily add in new API calls at a later date with its familiar format (well, familiar once you get used to it).
Links: django-piston: http://bitbucket.org/jespern/django-piston/wiki/Home
jQuery: http://jquery.com/
jQuery autocomplete example: http://www.pengoworks.com/workshop/jquery/autocomplete.htm
AJAX definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajax_(programming)
JSON definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JSON