Google Image Labeler

Author: Donna O'Hanlon

Date Published: 12 September 2007, 12:00

In an attempt to label images more efficiently, Google is recruiting users to help them with labelling images using a new online game, Google Image Labeler.

The program works by pairing two users together and asking them to label pictures shown to them for 90 second rounds. Users sign on and are shown as many images as possible in 90 seconds. Both users will assign a label or tag to the image and if it matches they can move on. If a user cannot match a label to an image, they can elect to move on.

Players are awarded 100 points for every image that matches label to label. This is not a contest however. There is no reward, only the chance that players will have fun with the game. One of the problems that Google is facing is that the images can be very difficult to identify. It is possible that the reason why Google are asking for help is because their images can be so challenging.

In an e-mail to PC Magazine a Google spokesperson said "Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. Images are notoriously difficult to organize because they lack textual cues. However, image search quality remains a top priority for Google. Image Labeler will help us organize and target images so that users get the best possible search results for Google Image queries and are able to connect with sites that have these images quickly and easily."

Google has no knowledge yet if the game will come out of its experimental phase.