How Do You Search?

The ultimate search facility would be the ability to upload a picture and have a progam either attempt to ID it or look for similar pictures on the web.

I know Google and MS are experimenting with this now but I think the technology is a good 10 years away yet. A few systems are now able to ID famous landmarks and logos but thats about it!

Yes.. and I probably will try something like that if there is no available data for a certain motto or inscription. Kind of like "if all else fails, try this" and then save the results if something comes back with good information (as chosen by the searcher). The only problem is that abbreviation/motto translations are hard to find - which is why this is being built.

It will definitely be a huge project, but I won't be the only one adding data. Everyone who has even ONE they know the meaning of will be invited to contribute their knowledge!




With ICR ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intell..._recognition ) anything could be possible I've been doing research into that exact thing for both ends of the problem: for the end user to search, and for people adding data: it would be awesome to just upload a picture of a coin and it would extract the inscription and characteristics (any available, anyway) automagically.

Foxit already has the ability to read text from jpg images (Evernote uses their technology for handwriting recognition). I'm checking into their capabilities, along with other companies.

From another viewpoint.. coins could be their own language.. so if you turned them into a (really large) alphabet and/or font, it would be a piece of cake to figure out what "letter" that thing is.

In the meantime, I had a slightly different one planned. Similar though.. you design the coin onscreen and it identifies/translates. Choose a shape, place elements, text (choices of languages via images if needed), etc, and it searches known combinations of same. The result of the 'designing' is saved as an image file along with its given parameters and associated matches to make the engine 'learn'. A ways off, as I want to get the site done first so whoever wants to can add their coins and translations.

Keep the ideas comin'... One idea leads to another

Very nice! Dang Droids get ALL the fun.

Thanks for the link.. I'll keep an eye on that one, it looks promising