Searchable pictures
By Kristoffer Bohmann, Bohmann Usability
Searchable pictures. Google added image search capabilities to their search engine. It actually works when searching for people and art. The challenge for this service is that most pictures lack meaningful descriptions due to missing ALT tags and incomprehensible image file names. On the other hand, 95 percent of all sites neither need nor want to make their images searchable since images are components on a webpage, not an end in themselves.
The best use of the technology at present probably is to identify (illegal) use of your corporate logos and product pictures. Still, the importance of image search capabilities will grow significantly as the web moves towards multimedia rich content. Some day it may become possible to spot a word or person mentioned in a radio show or TV broadcast show.
Kristoffer Bohmann
