Welcome to Google Image Labeler, a new feature of Google Image Search that allows you to label random images to help improve the quality of Google's image search results.
Google Image Labeler puts two random users together and asks them to label/tag an image. The idea is that if two people come up with the same label, it is probably a good one and will make Google’s image search better.(TechCrunch)
You’ll be randomly paired with a partner who’s online and using the feature. Over a 90-second period, you and your partner will be shown the same set of images and asked to provide as many labels as possible to describe each image you see. When your label matches your partner’s label, you’ll earn some points and move on to the next image until time runs out. After time expires, you can explore the images you’ve seen and the websites where those images were found. And we’ll show you the points you’ve earned throughout the session.
How do we categorize information for later retrieval. Although this "game" is fun and addictive and really serves the purpose of improving Google's image search engine, it has learning value. Playing this game can help us think about the difference between the traditional way of "filing" information in "folders" for later retrieval and the new, web 2.0 way, of "tagging" information. How are tags different than categories? What is the power of tagging in terms of access to our own information as well as the learning potentail from the collective mind?
