Re:The Friends Of My Friends Are Not My Friends
by rhizome on Monday January 13, 2014 @03:17PM
(#7052990)
Not sure that a business based on taking a photo of something and asking people "what is this?" is destined for success. Isn't that something that Google Now/Siri will probably automatically answer in the near future?
These services require data-entry on the part of their users in order to seed these identification engines. I see this data-entry as a hidden value of the user, and part of why network effects are so valued by VCs/the market.
Re:The Friends Of My Friends Are Not My Friends
by jellicle on Monday January 13, 2014 @04:36PM
(#7053564)
Doesn't Google have a sort of "index" and "search engine" of billions of photos with captions, link headings, title text, alternate text, and so on?
https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=lug+nut
You're telling me it only works one way, from text to images, and doesn't work the other way? But Google already lets you upload an image to search...
In any case, Google can simply say "I think it's a lug nut. Do you agree Y/N?" And in effect, play 20 questions with its entire userbase. In very short order it would be capable of identifying anything.
Re:The Friends Of My Friends Are Not My Friends
by rhizome on Monday January 13, 2014 @05:50PM
(#7054132)
The lug nut question is an important verification step and indeed data-entry on the part of the user.
Re:The Friends Of My Friends Are Not My Friends
by tomswartz07 on Monday January 13, 2014 @02:59PM
(#7052909)
Although farfetched, the idea of this gives me tingles.
Re:The Friends Of My Friends Are Not My Friends
by jellicle on Monday January 13, 2014 @04:39PM
(#7053589)
"That's your girlfriend Ally, wearing a ghost costume. You almost got it past me, but the guy across the street watched her put on her costume with his Google Glasses and a pair of binoculars. Buy binoculars at Amazon, click here. Buy window curtains at Walmart, click here."
Re:The Friends Of My Friends Are Not My Friends
by pavel_lishin on Monday January 13, 2014 @05:51PM
(#7054137)
"To schedule an appointment with a dermatologist about her potentially pre-cancerous mole, click here."
"It's a left-handed lug nut for a 1975 Vespa scooter. Click here to buy it now on Ebay!"
"It's a powdered doughnut, and judging from your location, you're at Acme Doughnuts on Main St. They have a 2-for-1 special after 5pm every day!"
"It's your friend Dave, shot through a red filter and wearing a hockey goalie's mask. He has an Android phone in his pocket, so I was able to check my geolocation records to identify him. Good one! You almost got me!"