Google Goggles Breathes New Life into Android Phone Pics

Posted on Wednesday Dec 9th 2009 by Clint Boulton. Filed under: Enterprise Mobility

Days after eWEEK reported that Google was preparing to launch a visual search application that lets users get search results from pictures taken with their Android smartphones, the search engine launched this service, Google Goggles, at an event in Mountain View, Calif. Goggles is Google's entrée into computer vision technology. PC World claims Goggles works with platforms other than Android, but in the meantime, see what can be seen and searched with the visual search app here. Today, Goggles won't work well for food, plants, cars or animals. Here is what it will work well with.

  • Google Goggles Breathes New Life into Android Phone Pics

    Google Goggles Breathes New Life into Android Phone Pics, Enterprise Mobility

    by Clint Boulton

  • Google Goggles

    Google Goggles, Enterprise Mobility

    Goggles is Google's first foray into computer vision technology, allowing users to essentially make a search query by snapping a picture with their handset instead of typing or speaking searches.

  • Locations and Monuments

    Locations and Monuments, Enterprise Mobility

    See a landmark you like, take a picture from your Motorola Droid (or any of 15 or so Android devices) and enjoy the results.

  • Goggles Knows Books

    Goggles Knows Books, Enterprise Mobility

    Scan a book, get a synopsis.

  • Look Up Contacts

    Look Up Contacts, Enterprise Mobility

    We're not sure why people would snap pictures of user's business cards when they can learn about the user by talking to them, but Goggles does this, returning contact info and other Web results about people. However, why Goggles will surface text info on people, it won't yet recognize people's pictures and associate them with Web results.

  • Artwork

    Artwork, Enterprise Mobility

    If you see a painting in a museum, shoot it with your Android handheld and Goggles returns artist and painting info in seconds.

  • Will Work for Wine

    Will Work for Wine, Enterprise Mobility

    In a less sober example, Goggles will identify some brands of wine.

  • Company Logos

    Company Logos, Enterprise Mobility

    Goggles also IDs company logos.

  • Places

    Places, Enterprise Mobility

    Of course, tourists or people who are lost can use Goggles to figure out where they are. To learn more about local businesses, users don't even need to take a picture. Just point the camera toward the store. Using the Android phone's GPS and compass, Goggles will show users the name of the store.

  • Learn More

    Learn More, Enterprise Mobility

    Tap on the name- in this case Comix Comedy Club- to learn more about the establishment.

  • , Enterprise Mobility