In the latest search wars, Google and Microsoft, two giants are competing for search supremacy and shooting at each other with latest and innovative search features. Latest feature from Microsoft Bing is “Visual Search” and is another shot in the string, although its not really a search feature yet and its more of a visualization.
The idea behind the visual search is that you search and find things based on visualization or how they look. According to the latest study conducted by Microsoft Research consumer process results with images 20% faster as compared to text only results. And Microsoft has targeted visual search to lure people in locating and refine the search queries using images. This particularly works for search queries which are more structured such as well defined product categories .
Visual Search uses the power of Microsoft Silverlight which is opponent of Adobe Flash, and has a list of product categories which can be searched under visual search.
Visual search concept is nothing new and there are other nifty dedicated visual search engines which offer visual search in multiple visualizations, few of them are listed below and they are quite good too.
- Google Fast Flip – Magazine like visualization for online news ( recently announced )
- www.Grokker.com – Results displayed in dynamic map. Results based on yahoo, Wikipedia and Amazon.
- www.liveplasma.com ( music and movies only ) – Dynamic Map
- www.kartoo.com – Results displayed in map in cloud shape with links. Search based on Google and yahoo.
- www.viewzi.com – Multiple grid visualizations, Search based on yahoo, Google and viddler.
- www.searchme.com – dynamic carousel stack.
- www.Quintra.com – Cloud Tag and organic outline
- www.ujiko.com – Radial outline
- www.search-cube.com – Organic style and 3d cube of visual preview available.
- www.Middlespot.com – Gallery style with zoom and rearranging options.
- www.oskope.com – grid, stack, pile, graph and list visualizations available.
- www.nexplore.com – Summary, line, gallery visualizations
- www.redzee.com – Carousel style
- www.cooliris.com ( Browser extension ) – Dynamic 3D wall with full screen capability
Few Gripes about Bing Visual Search :
- No Mouse wheel scroll available, you have to scroll using scroll bar.
- Right now visual style search is only limited to few models and category/galleries. It would be really nice if people can submit their own galleries or categories are expanded.
- What about a mobile edition or even a mobile application on iPhone and other mobile devices ?
- As compared to flash silverlight is still in early stages of adoption to masses. Linux and other browsers will not be able to provide this feature.
Well I guess we will have to wait till this feature is improved and comes out of beta to see the real appeal of Bing Visual search. Till then try the visual search and start searching visually.
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Article by Muzzammil Waheed
Founder of BiGGTech.com, tech enthusiast, develops in Microsoft technologies with interests in technology, science and gadgets