Gathering Images and more for Data

Google is making changes about how to use their excellent image databases.  We used Google images to gather to input into analytic models.   The reported changes would have helped us considerably.    I note in particular 'related images'.   Continuing to look more closely.

Knowledge Graph Google Images
Angela Wu
Software Engineer, Search

In recent years, we’ve made Google Images more useful by helping you explore beyond the image itself. For example, there are captions on thumbnail images in search results, Lens lets you search within images you find, and you can explore similar ideas with the Related Images feature. All of these improvements have the common goal of making it easier to find visual inspiration, learn new things, and get more done.

Starting this week, a new feature makes it easy to find quick facts about what you see on Google Images. When you search for an image on mobile in the U.S., you might see information from the Knowledge Graph related to the result. That information would include people, places or things related to the image from the Knowledge Graph’s database of billions of facts, helping you explore the topic more.

For example, let’s say you’re searching for beautiful state parks to visit nearby. You want to swim during your visit, so you tap on a picture of a park with a river. Beneath the photo you might see related topics, such as the name of the river, or which city the park is in. If you tap a specific topic, it will expand and show you a short description of the person, place or thing it references, along with a link to learn more and other related topics for you to explore. With this information, you can better understand the image you’re viewing and whether the web page is relevant to your search.  ... "

New Visual Shopping Design from Google

In the Google Blog,  new ways to visually shop, with a number of impressive visual examples:

Connecting you to visual shoppers with new ad formats on Google Images
By Surojit Chatterjee  Vice President, Product Management, Shopping

A recent study shows that Google is the first place US shoppers go to discover or find a new brand or product. But shoppers aren’t just doing their searches on Google.com. We’ve seen that 50 percent of online shoppers said images of the product inspired them to purchase, and increasingly, they’re turning to Google Images. 

That’s why we’re investing in shopping solutions across more of our properties, like Google Images. When we launched Shopping ads on Google Images, we wanted to provide advertisers with a new way to reach shoppers where they’re looking for more visual inspiration. Now, we’re introducing shoppable ads on Google Images as another way we’re helping you connect with consumers. This new format enables you to highlight multiple products available for sale within your sponsored ad among Google Images results. We’re currently testing this on a small percentage of traffic with select retailers, surfacing on broad queries like “home office ideas”, “shower tile designs”, and “abstract art”.  ... "