Take a Look at the World Through Google’s Goggles

Until now when it came time to conduct an internet search, your only option was to type in what you were looking for and they your went hunting for that proverbial needle in a haystack. Google, the tech company that conspiracy theorists love to hate has broken new ground on the way we search. On Tuesday the California-based company demoed Google Goggles. Potentially tongue-twisting name aside, the app is no joke. It allows users to conduct searches visually.

So how does it work? Knowledge-seekers use their mobile phones to take a snap a quick picture and wait for the search result. There is a catch — the app is only available on Android phones, so the majority of us are sad out of luck until Google decides to share the love. On the intro site, Google is pretty up front in saying that the project is still in beta and gives us the skinny on what will fetch you the best results. Suggestions include books, contact info, DVDs, and barcodes. This is a really nifty way to search for those moments when you just can’t think of the magic words to get you the results you’re looking for.

This coupled with Google’s recent rollout of real-time search will definitely keep Google at the top of the search engine heap. According to CNET, there may also be a version of Goggles for Google’s Chrome web browser.

‘”I am working on a 20 percent project to facilitate the input of Web image searching,’ Google programmer Xiuduan Fang said in a post Tuesday to the Chrome Extensions mailing list titled “Chrome extension for Web Goggles. The 20 percent figure refers to a Google program that permits engineers to devote a fifth of their time to projects of their own choosing.”

For now, those of you that own Android phones go and give Goggles the once over and let the rest of know what you think in the comments section. The rest of us can check out this video on how to use the app. Also, I’m not sure who these guys are, but I’m pretty sure their version of Google Goggles is in no shape, form, or fashion associated with Google. They were fourth on a Google search for “Google Goggles”. Better safe than sorry.