Visual Search Engine Round Up

March 7, 2011

Search technology exists in a near constant state of flux. Arguably, over the last decade the trend has been curving toward a more commercially driven format, visual search.

Like.com springs to mind, famous for incorporating image recognition software, utilizing a visual signature in its queries. Generally though, image search is based on textual entries which are then juxtaposed against the metadata linked to the subject image.

Pandia Search Central, a site devoted to all things search, has compiled “A List of Visual Search Engines”, including:

Aga Kids
Bing Visual Search
Nexplore
oScope
Quintura
Qwiki
Redz
Search-cube
Simploos
SpaceTime 3D
Spezify
Ziipa
Yometa

After a swift scan of the list, here are a few details concerning two of the more obscure engines.

Spezify, the Swedish apparatus launched in 2009, presents a more contemporary face. Once engaged, your are abruptly met by an animated collage of material. Results are displayed in a swirling mixture of both straight text and image driven formats, the latter including links to video related to the keyword entered. While not recommended for serious data collection and analysis, Spezify is perhaps better suited for efforts of a decidedly more casual nature.

A background check of Simploos provided little information on this Houston based system. Aside from what the head Gander had to say about Simploos Search back in 2009, I could find no other facts beyond the two hundred and thirty words on the site itself. Described as a “tool” allowing users to access content through the act of “horizontal scrolling”, Simploos’ simple method of navigation and engrossing presentation of results provides a fresh approach to search.

For a brief yet informative review of Yometa, you can read “Kartoo Closes and Opens the Door for Yometa”, also by Stephen Arnold.

Also, Pandia will publishing Stephen E Arnold’s new monograph about enterprise. More details will be available soon.

Micheal Cory, March 7, 2011

Written by Stephen E. Arnold · Filed Under News, Rich media, Search, Technology

Comments

Comments are closed.

Search the site
Subscribe to Beyond Search
Feature archive
News archive

Stephen E. Arnold monitors search, content processing, text mining and related topics from his high-tech nerve center in rural Kentucky. He tries to winnow the goose feathers from the giblets. He works with colleagues worldwide to make this Web log useful to those who want to go "beyond search". Contact him at sa [at] arnoldit.com. His Web site with additional information about search is arnoldit.com.