Google Gesture Search Explained

Googles Gesture Search
Logo Alt:	Google Gesture Search (Logo).png
Screenshot Alt:	Google Gesture Search (Screenshot).jpg
Developer:	Google
Operating System:	Android

Google Gesture Search was released on March 3, 2010^[1] as a new application for the Android Eclair operating system (Android 2.0) and above, which enabled users to search their phone's contacts, bookmarks, applications and music simply by scribbling out letters with their finger.^[2]

Release

Gesture Search was based on the early research work^[3] and primarily developed by Yang Li, a Research Scientist at Google. At the time of its launch, the application was made available only to the elite devices such as the Google Nexus One & the Motorola Milestone and was regarded as an extension to Google's handwriting recognition programme,^[4] prominently available only in the US.^[5] In order to be able to access the Gesture Search, one had to first launch the application and then proceed with actions / scribblings as required; as opposed to the modern Google Search which tends to be universally available (without having to trigger the Search application).

Notable updates

• On June 8, 2011, Google Labs enabled an API for Gesture Search that gave developers access to integrate the feature within their own Android apps as well where the users could gesture to write text and search for application-specific data.^[6]
• Google also updated Gesture Search for Android with support for over 40 languages and transliteration.^[7]
• Also, as reported on July 28, 2014, the Google Gesture Search v2.1.4 added a new widget on the Android Smartphone devices that allowed users to quickly launch recently used applications, while this was shown as a pop-up on Android Tablets.^[8]
• The product was discontinued in 2017.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Search your Android phone with written gestures. googlemobile.blogspot.in. 2017-02-17.
2. Web site: Google's Gesture Search Gives You A New Way To Search Android. Kincaid. Jason. TechCrunch. 4 March 2010 . 2017-02-17.
3. Li. Yang. 2010. Gesture Search: A Tool for Fast Mobile Data Access. 87–96 . en.
4. News: Google Gesture Search review: Pointlessness at your fingertips. CNET. 2017-02-17. en.
5. News: Google's Android Gesture Search: A Fingers-On Tour. PCWorld. 2017-02-17. en.
6. Web site: Add Gesture Search to your Android apps. googlecode.blogspot.in. 8 June 2011 . 2017-02-17.
7. News: When you use your phone, sometimes it's easier to handwrite and use gestures .... 2017-02-17. en.
8. Web site: Google Updates Gesture Search App For The First Time In Over A Year, Adds A New Widget And Popup Tablet UI. 2014-07-28. Android Police. 2017-02-17.