The changing landscape of technology never ceases to amaze me.  It seems like some new technology pops out of the ether almost every day.  One day it's video scanning technology.  The next it's conversational advertisements.  And today it's a new twist on image searching that could radically change the way we search for and use online images.

CNN has a fascinating article about a new technology for mapping photos from Swedish start-up Polar Rose.

The new technology has a two-fold approach to image indexing:

1. User Tagging:  The software allows web surfers to tag photos (screenshot) with names and other information that then become part of the image's meta information.  Other users can then agree or disagree with the original tag.  If they disagree, they're given the option of entering the information they believe is correct (screenshot).
2. Facemapping:  The second aspect of Polar Roses' technology actually maps the human face into distinct, fingerprint-like "faceprints".  When the software encounters a face that has no tag, it will use it's mapping technology to try to guess who is in the photo (screenshot).  Users are then given the option to select a recommendation or tag the photo with a different name.

It's quite obvious that Polar Rose is playing off of the demand for socially-interactive content and services.  Any user who has the software installed, which come in the form a plugin for web browsers, will see Polar Rose icon within images to signal that the service has something to say about that photo.In addition to the user-generated content, Polar Rose hopes to use it's technology to improve image search and give users more searching options.  For example, the service could be used to map a photo and then suggest similar-appearing people (and eventually objects).

The service is scheduled to enter the beta testing period in the first part of 2007.  Browser plugins for Firefox and Internet Explorer are in the works.  Polar Rose is accepting email addresses for those who would like to participate in the beta test next year.