Google Goggles Coming to iPhone Soon

23rd August 2010

Categories: News - Latest

 

Google Goggles was originally launched on Android and some other smartphones back in December 2009 and word is out that the company's visual search tool will soon be making its way to iPhone.  Although the app is currently only scratching the surface in terms of its planned capability, it still has massive potential for the tourism sector. 

Google Goggles allows visitors to search the internet using pictures taken with their mobile phones. For example, if they are standing in front of Blackpool Tower, they simply take a picture with their phone and the app will recognise the image and give them the lowdown. 

It currently works better with certain types of queries eg. books, DVDs, landmarks, logos, barcodes, products, artwork and business cards.  It's not so good at the moment when taking pictures of animals, plants, cars, furniture or apparel.

The app can even recognise a famous street view and calculate which restaurants and hotels are in sight, or nearby. This offers lots of potential for tourism marketers who can now create special restaurant or nightclub deals for users of a particular app and vouchers can be downloaded on the spot. 

Google Goggles also includes translation capabilities which will prove particularly useful for travellers.  It can currently read Englsh, French, Italian, Spanish and German and can translate to many more.  Non-latin languages such as Chinese, Hindi and Arabic are planned for the future.

When combined with Social Media, Google Goggles will be even more powerful, enabling travellers to get reviews to complement detailed information.  Tour operators can create their own tailored holiday apps, tying their customers in to an ‘always-on’ owned media channel.

We'll be keeping an eye on developments so watch this space...