Googlearchy

I have to say, sometimes Google amazes me. There is definitely a reason they are number one in just about everything having to do with the internet. Okay, maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the point.

Recently, the geniuses at Google were faced with a dilemma. They wanted a way to make their image search more effective. One of the most effective ways to do this would be to assign keywords pertinent to each image, also known as "Tagging." But how to undertake such a monumental task? There are millions and millions of images on the internet, and image recognition software is not nearly sophisticated enough for the process to be automated. It would have to be done by hand.

Google's solution? Turn it into a game, and get someone else to do it for you.

I was quickly sucked in after finding the Google Image Labeler a few weeks back. You are paired randomly with another participant, and given 90 seconds to "tag" as many pictures as possible, neither participant being able to see what the other is suggesting. As soon as you and your partner suggest a matching tag, it moves on to the next image. After your time has expired, you are able to see exactly what suggestions your partner was making. It is intriguing to see the different ways people have of describing what they see. Some focus on actions, while others objects, and some focus more on colors and shapes.

Give it a shot! Help Google make the internet a better place, and have a little fun at the same time.