Google Product View to recognize text in images

by Danny Mendez on January 4, 2008 at 02:00 PM

Google image text searchGoogle recently filed for a patent to protect a sophisticated search system designed to find text in images. The most obvious use of the the technology is to find text in pictures through Google Images, but that's just the beginning.
Currently, Google uses the technology in Google Maps Street View, but, as usual, the company would like to expand into other areas of money-making. It is currently putting together what may be called Google Product View, a service that could revolutionize the way we shop and revitalize walk-in stores.

Product View requires automatic machines to index the inventory of regular, walk-in stores. Consumers can search local stores or a specific location for rare items, preventing them from having to call individual stores and dealing with disgruntled 19 year olds. Google plans on integrating Product View with its other services including the company's advertising efforts and Google Maps.

[via Information Week]

Tags: google, image, images, robot, search, search image, search text, SearchImage, SearchText, smart search, SmartSearch, text