Vodafone brings picture search to mobiles

 

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Posted on 4 Mar 2008 at 15:18

Vodafone is trialling a new method of search that relies on pictures rather than words, the company has revealed at CeBIT 2008.

The demonstrated system, called Otello, allows the user to take a picture of "anything from an historical building to a CD cover", which will then "return information relevant to the picture to the phone."

Vodafone is preparing a trial with a German newspaper that will allow readers to find out further information about certain articles - including audio and video extras - by taking a picture of them with their mobile phone.

Vodafone says the inspiration for the technology comes from the increasing prevalence of phones without "easy to use" keyboards. In this situation it suggests taking a picture of something is going to become a far more natural action than typing in a search term.

The company refused to elaborate on how long it expected the trial to last, or when we're liable to see it in the UK.

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Author: Stuart Turton in Hannover