Alex Reid

Google has introduced a beta visual search application for their Android phones that allows you to take a photo of something and find relevant search results based on that. The new application is cutely named Google Goggles.

To determine where something you have taken a photo of actually is, GPS information is used by Google Goggles. While Google developed facial recognition technology, they will not be incorporating that with Google Googles (yet) because of privacy concerns – similar to how Google Street View is now blurring people’s faces.

If this interests you, then I highly suggest you check out the iPhone app from Yelp that includes a similar augmented reality (AR) feature. The Yelp AR feature allows you to point your phone at a business and Yelp will display reviews based on that location.

The New York Times has launched a new site tool named Represent that allows New Yorkers to find out who their representative is on all levels and then access news stories relating to those politicians.

There’s nothing new in Represent technologically as it’s simple tagging news stories and categorizing by congressional district but The New York Times illustrates the next step for news(paper) content providers; “hyperlocal” content.

Yet another top level domain (TLD) is being rolled out: .tel.

The purpose of the .tel domain is an “unified contact directory services as text-based alternative to fragmented communications solutions” or in other words an one-shop-stop of all your web sites, phone numbers and other contact information. No private hosting is required for the .tel domain as the usage of the domain name is simply a one-page information portal.

No photos, no html, no web stats, no design options and no associated email – however what is interesting is that clicking on a phone number will activate a “click to call” feature.

The .tel domain name may challenge directory services as it intent is for companies and individuals to offer a compilation of their contact info when they want as they want, while most telcos only update their directory listings once a year as their data is tied into the annual printings of their paper directories. The .tel template is also designed to appear on mobile devices like Blackberry and iPhone.

The TLD will launch on December 3, 2008, when domains will be available only to trademark owners costing a few hundred dollars per domain. On February 3, .tel will be more widely available, sold at premium prices for minimum three year terms. After March 24, they will be available to the general public for a regular price and a one year term.

Propelled by Internet, Barack Obama Wins Presidency.

’nuff said.

Tag clouds are fun, but Wordle has a nice Java applet that slightly animates the tagging with options of colour and font schemes. I did one of several sites, including mine. Apparently I need to ease up on some subjects.