Google Goggles is so catchy that no one should ever have a hard time remembering the name. There are already plenty of good quality mobile search engines to choose from, but Google Goggles offers something completely different. Instead of relying on QWERTY keyboards or voice commands, Google has created a search engine that allows mobile users to take pictures of what they want to search. During a live demonstration broadcast on CNN, Google engineers showed how easy it is for mobile web users to use this technology.
If you think that Google Goggles is more novelty than practical consider the fact that the search engine is already able to translate a number of different languages just by uploading a snapshot. Using artificial intelligence as well as cloud computing, Google Goggles will soon be on the smart phone of just about every traveler. While the examples shown on CNN were impressive, the real question is how much is the average person really going to need to use this mobile browser? Many cell phone makers have been experimenting with voice controls, but it seems like consumers are more concerned about getting larger touch screens.
So far, Google Goggles hasn’t been heavily scrutinized in many tech circles because it is still in the early stages. In the next few months the mobile search engine could possibly start coming standard on a few smart phones, but the Apple iPhone 5 is also due out this summer. It may end up being a battle between the two technology giants to see exactly what kind of mobile search consumers want.
