Pros & Cons

• Pros: The great improvement that made the difference to improve the Google Goggles software was Plink. Last year in 2010 Google bought Plink, a UK company capable of advancing Google goggles visual search engine sufficiency. As a result, the company has contributed to helping visual searches to where people can take pictures of paintings and the results now include giving the painting's information. Google Goggles was already able to do this activity but with Plink it made "functionality even better" ("Google buys plink, puts it to work on google goggles", 2010).
• Now when the word "functionality" comes into play the definition becomes vague and misleading as to what has really begun to function better with Google Goggles. Because of Plink's assistance uploading a picture without having to type something became even easier because it now gave everyone with the Goggles application autofocus optics ("Google buys plink, puts it to work on google goggles", 2010). That single operating difference was what made paintings as well as landmarks better to interpret and search for the software. Better functionality for everyone was created especially for those on the run and in great need of information fast. For instance, a tourist can take a quick photo of where they are and the software will use the background or whatever else shown in the picture to find related interests such as well-known landmarks in the area. As an android application, it also notifies the user of when there are more facts in interest to the photo while in that area (Google Goggles Android update makes your vacation photos slightly more interesting, 2011). The extra boost Google go from Plink in autofocus not only helped Google but also all consumers because they do not have to pay for the extra gear of picture taking focus.
• In addition to using only a picture to find information, Google Googles can now also interpret it by instilling it into a phone's memory or translating it into any language. By taking a picture of a business card the Goggles can now decipher numbers and save it all as a contact information in the phone (Google, 2009). Another advantage of the application is that it can find out where to get a book for school by simply taking a picture of someone else's (Google, 2009). With the help of Plink the software can also display the URL thumbnail by the use of a photo of a QR code included in it. What is even more helpful is that along with the upload of information it checks the "credentials against its blacklist of malicious sites" (Google Goggles update brings support for devices without autofocus, 2012). Lastly, when taking a picture of an exceptional amount of words the software can translate the sentences into any language available, useful for both work and times of leisure (Google, 2009). Though Google Goggles has opened a door to an easier and faster way to gain knowledge it may have also opened an even larger door to an invasion of privacy.
• Cons:Problems of ethics erupt with problems of privacy invasion when Google can have access to what consumers display in pictures for Google Goggles searches. Google, a very well known global search site already collects information from consumers' basic information on the web as well as the searches they make while logged in to a Google account. Though you can delete the history as suggested in the Goggle goggles informational video it still adds to the argument that Google knows too much about its consumers (Google, 2009). Personalized advertisements accumulate based on a consumer's searches and when people decide to opt out of the propaganda the results in searches change (Alexander, 2012). The world is more dependent on technology than ever; therefore, quitting regular searches on the Google site would not be an easy task. When Google can no longer save and use the search results a consumer makes because they have opted out of saved history, Google begins to give search results containing YouTube and other products. Slowly but productively Google uses that information instead to "piece together who you are -- what you watch, where you go and what you buy" and with Google Goggles, the way into consumers' lives is even easier (Harris, 2012). The security aspects of the development in privacy will continue to be a hurdle for Google Goggles to overcome and try to make limits. Google has made a great title globally as a reliable search engine but today as it increases in connection to other sties with this software, it also increases in getting to know its customers more than appreciated. Social problems escalate as well as people will continue to follow the newest technological advancements of Google Goggles without reading the small fine print of the application adding to their personal Google profile for advertisement and information.