A recent Apple patent filing hints that Siri may be able to organize photos on a user's iPhone.
Apple has applied for a patent titled "Voice-based Image Tagging and Searching" with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent describes a system that will allow digital images to be tagged with several identifiers such as name of a person, a place or an activity in a photograph.
Users will be able to tag the pictures and also search for the photographs via voice commands given to a "voice-based digital assistant" (Siri).
While iOS 7 already allows iPhone user to to search for photos based on time taken and location, Apple looks to take things one level up with Siri, which may even automatically tag corresponding pictures based on the time and location at which they were taken. Users can give a voice command such as "this is me at the beach" and the picture will automatically get tagged with the relevant information. The feature will make it easier for users to sort their pictures without the need to individually tag each picture.
If pictures are properly tagged, then customers can just find them with a simple voice command such as "show me photos of me at the beach," and related pictures will be available to view.
Smartphones are very commonly used to take pictures. However, with increased number of pictures in a handset, it can get difficult for a user to find a picture easily when needed. Apple's latest patent filing will allow users to tag pictures that will enable them to find pictures easily.
The latest patent filing shows Apple's ongoing efforts to improve photo organization on its devices. Apple revamped the Photo app in iOS 7 where users can get information on when and where pictures were taken. Users can then organize the images, referred as "Moments," using the information, which may provide a basis for the addition of photo searches using Siri in the near term.
It remains unknown when Apple plans to implement the technology in its future products. Apple usually showcases its upcoming mobile and desktop operating system and some of their features at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which usually takes place during mid-year. Users will hope that Apple includes the voice-based image tagging and searching feature in its next mobile OS.
