Google SERP Improved with Image Labeler

Google Image Labeler was launched on August 31, 2006 and was meant to represent an interactive utility able to improve the image search function using the users' help. Since the release of the product, Google Image Labeler is available as a beta but the company is continuously working on it so I expect a final version of the service soon. Today, the Google search engine result page displayed an interesting message placed at the bottom of the site. "Want to improve Google Image Search? Try Google Image Labeler," the message said.

The utility promoted by Google on its SERP is somehow useful because sometimes, it can cause more problems than help the company improve the search technology. Let me explain why. Google Image Labeler is an interactive way meant to improve the image search engine by connecting to users and displaying them a picture. Both players must enter the description of the image that will bring them a certain number of points used in the ranking system. After Google collects all the words entered by the users, the most common terms will be included in the keywords list for a certain picture indexed by Google. This way, the search engine is more relevant, returning a certain image for a specific keyword entered by the user.

Some time ago, Google Image Labeler was really annoying because it was used as a Google spam method, numerous users trying to promote pictures with malicious words. After the picture was displayed, the spammers entered wrong terms about the picture, representing an easy way to influence the Google Image search function. Because the words were quite popular, the Image Labeler offered quite many points for them, so even the new users were attracted to enter wrong descriptions of the photos.