As technology drives its course, more and more ‘possibilities’ are made to happen. The visual search has captured the heart of the web today.
However, visual search is not that typically discussed. But a study shows that more than 60% of millennials opt for this. Not to mention that Generation Z also wants to join themselves in. Into this another facet of search types.
Now, in this article let us discuss the what’s and why’s of this.
What Is Visual Search?
Visual search is about using real images for searching instead of text. This is made possible with AI or Artificial Intelligence technology.
Let us say, for instance, you capture an object or something on your phone. A visual search software can then look for the details of that photo for you. First, it recognizes the object in the picture. And second, it regulates the results of information about that picture for you.
So there’s no need for you to type. And there is no need for you to identify the object yourself. Thus, this is very helpful if you want to know something more. About a specific object you are interested in.
Moreover, visual search is especially helpful for those who have an e-commerce business. If the store has good optimization of its contents. Then visual searching does a lot more good for the business’ profitability.
That is because there are more chances that their products will stand out. As being the returned search result for a user. Indeed, if your e-commerce shop appears more on most searches. Then there is more visibility. And also a high profitability rate.
Visual Searching Vs Image Searching
However, there could be a slight confusion between the two. The words visual and image kind of sound the same.
On the other hand, the two have similarities. They both are connected with imagery. But, there’s a difference.
This is because visual search is more related to the sensory searches. Sensory search connects with texts, voice, and vision searches.
However when it comes to image searching. A user still needs to use text. Unlike in visual searches, the user must use images for searching.
As a matter of fact, image search has existed for almost 20 years on the web. It was first introduced by Google last July 2001. This so happens when lots of searches are for Jennifer Lopez in a certain green dress. Thus, search engines could not handle them enough. And so, an image search was then introduced.
More About Visual Search Works
A fuse of two technologies makes up the visual search. The first, is computer vision. And the other is machine learning technology.
Computer vision enables the machine to gain sight. However, it does more. Because computer vision also helps the machine to recognize what’s in a picture. Thus, leading it into giving information about that picture.
Moreover, computer vision has been there for a long time. But it was used for visual search only after the introduction of machine learning technology.
Thus, these two works hand in hand in enabling visual search.
