Finding the answers to most anything

July 10, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

As a kid, I remember wishing for many things including a magic piece of technology that would answer any questions I could ask it. And not only could I ask it anything, I could do so by merely speaking to it.

I envisioned all of the answers just waiting for me on the glowing screen. I even remember asking my parents for it and I also remember my mother’s kind smile when she replied that although I couldn’t have it right now, someday I would have something like it.

My mom was right. I have something like it now and it’s on my iPhone.

Google Search is an app that works on most any smartphone, and it’s amazing how quickly it works and how accurately it answers.

Actually, there are several apps out there these days that do similar things, but I really like the Google Search app best so far. After you download it for free on iTunes, you’re all set.

I especially like how you can configure the app to work when you hold it up to your ear. You hear a small beep and all you do is ask your question.

After you make your query, you remove it from your ear and watch the magic happen. After a short moment, you’ll see the waveform of your spoken query disappear and you’ll see your question appear typed on top of the screen. Beneath that you will see a series of answers to your question.

Usually, the first two answers contain the correct response to your question. It’s absolutely amazing how accurate it is.

Some of my more recent questions included asking what you call a person who makes wine barrels, when was Easter in 2001, where do they speak Gaelic and what are some brands of smudge-free lenses for glasses. Each and every question was answered accurately and in moments.

Google Search also keeps a running tab of all of my previously asked questions for reference just in case I may need to look at the answers again.

Google Search also now has the ability for me to snap a picture using my iPhone’s camera and identify the image I took. I have to say that the accuracy of identifying images is somewhat less accurate that the spoken questions, but it’s still very accurate.

Taking a picture of my computer’s mouse, for example, yielded a series of matching images of the make and model of that mouse including information on where to purchase it. Pretty impressive.

Another example of how I used Google Search was when I couldn’t remember an actor’s name in a movie I was discussing. It didn’t even dawn on me to ask Google Search until someone insisted I was completely wrong about the whole subject.

I remembered then to use my iPhone and in a few moments, I simply held it up for him to see the answer. He was so impressed with how it was able to give me answers to anything I asked it that when I saw him again, he was the proud owner of an iPhone.

Evidently just that one ability was enough justification for him to become an owner.

Think about it. Now you can carry something with you that can answer virtually any question you ask of it. It only took 40 years to get my childhood wish to come true, but I’d say it was totally worth the wait.

Craig Crossman is a national newspaper columnist writing about computers and technology. He also hosts the No. 1 daily national computer radio talk show, “Computer America,” heard on Business TalkRadio Monday through Friday, 10 p.m.-midnight. For more information, visit his website at www.computeramerica.com.

2011, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services