Google never seizes to amaze and with the latest addition of Google Voice Search and Google Goggles users now have even more search flexibility. Both additions are noteworthy as search applications will give users more mobility and search options.

Google Goggles for Image Searching from Mobile Phones

Normally you type in the name of an image at the Google Image Search to locate pictures and websites showing the images regarding the search query. Now it is possible to simply take a picture with your mobile phone and have Google Goggles search for websites and information as well as matching images. There is absolutely no need for typing in a search query. Although it may be faster to type the query, you may not necessarily have the name or a precise description. In such an instance the Goggles search will be beneficial.

Say for instance, you are at a specific place and need to know more about it. With Google Goggles it is extremely easy. If you have an Android phone, simply click on the Goggles Application, take a picture and search. You can discard the photo afterwards or save it for later usage. Mobile users thus can save time. Another example of the usefulness of the application is when for instance, Joe travels to Sweden. Unable to understand the language, he takes a picture of wording in a booklet and uses Google Goggles to quickly translate the information to English.

With the ability to recognise not only one, but up to three items in any query, it is relatively accurate for searches involving art, products, text, company logos, barcodes, landmarks and books as well as DVDs. It doesn’t, however, return accurate results for pictures regarding animals, clothing, vehicles, furniture, plants or animals.

Google Goggles for Desktop Searching

The technology which has been available for Google Android phones for quite a while is now also applicable to desktop searching. With the desktop version, you can do a Google Goggles search at the Image Search by clicking on the camera next to the image search box. Simply upload an image from where you have stored it on your computer and do the search. As alternative, drag and drop an image for searching. A third method for conducting a search involves copying and pasting the URL of the image you want to search. Google renders results based on the visual similarity to the image uploaded for search and results which completely match the image searched for.

There is bad news for people hoping to use facial recognition to take pictures of people and then conducting a Google Goggles search as the facial recognition has been disabled to ensure user privacy. With this technology, however, you should be able to get assistance in reading a newspaper in a foreign language, find your way around town, and find information on where to buy a book or locate a business telephone number based on a logo. It is an excellent tool for the person who is on the move and thus wants to do quick searches without having to type.

Google Voice Search

With the Google Voice Search option you don’t have to type anything. Simply speak and have your search done. The application is already available for Google Android phones, but is now also applicable to desktops. A little microphone icon is displayed next to the Google search box. The user clicks on it and by means of speech recognition a search can be conducted. At this stage it is only for English, but other languages may soon follow. The application is especially useful when you simply cannot come up with the right spelling for an item or have a rather long query. The Chrome browsers are the only browsers supporting Google Voice Search at present, but true to the universal availability goals of Google, other browsers may soon follow.

Since Google has already rolled out Voice Search for Android as far back as 2009, it has been able to build a substantial database of spoken words in various accents. Over 200 billion words are already recorded. Chances are that your voice activated query will be answered rather accurately with such a comprehensive database. Think about future applications such as getting a translation for what you are saying.

This of course, will be available once more languages are added. If you are English speaking you will be able to search for a long phrase, then click on the translate button and have it translated to another language. Listen to the pronouncement and or play it back to someone and have the person understand you. Such technology will certainly help with crossing the language barriers in foreign countries.  The Google Voice Search is, of course, rather useful for the blind person and creates more accessibility for the physically disabled person struggling to type in search queries.

Another example of the usefulness of the application is when a busy executive urgently requires information while working on another task. The user can simply activate the Google Voice Search and still work on the other project. It is thus a time saving search device.

Time Savings

In addition to the Google Goggles for images and the Google Voice Search, the Google Instant feature ensures that results are displayed as you type or conduct your Goggles or Voice searches. With around three to five seconds spared on each search because of speedy results rendering, you will be able to get answers at amazing rates. Not only does Google Instant save time, it also improves the web search experience through suggestions and previews of pages. The user gets more accurate results in a shorter period.

Google is moving at a tremendous pace in the development of useful applications. Apart from ensuring more accurate results with the Google Panda algorithms, the adding of Google +1 as well as Author Rank to improve search results, it also features a larger range of searching abilities. Google Voice Search and Google Goggles, traditionally available for mobile Android users, are now also available for the laptop and desktop user. The first step is, however, to install Google Chrome as browser unless you don’t mind waiting a bit longer for the applications to be available for usage with other browsers.