Google releases Crowdsource app to let you improve its services

There’s a ton of hidden data collection and processing that goes into powering and improving Google’s Maps, Translate, and Search services. In an attempt to gather even more data, Google has just released its new Crowdsource app to the Play Store.

Crowdsource allows users to help out with image transcription, handwriting recognition, translation validation, and map translation tasks. Handwriting recognition simply involves typing out text that you can decipher from poorly written words, while image recognition sees users attempt to identify objects from blurry pictures, such as street signs. Google says that most of these tasks will take just 5 to 10 seconds, and that the app might be a good way to whittle away a few minutes doing something constructive.

Do quick, simple tasks that have a huge impact – like improve the quality of Google Translate in your language, or of Google Maps in your country, etc. Each microtask takes no more than 5-10 seconds, so knock away a few the next time you find yourself with a few moments to kill – be it while waiting in line at the grocery store or on the train ride home. Everytime you use it, you know that you’ve made the internet a better place for your community.

What’s perhaps a little odd about the Crowdsource app is that Google isn’t offering any type of incentive or reward for participating, other than your own goodwill or boredom. Meanwhile, customers signed up to Google’s Opinion Rewards receive Play Store credit for their input, and Google seems to be paying for this type of data when it’s collected by other companies. Perhaps Google will introduce some rewards in the future.

Still, if you fancy helping Google out, you can download the free app from the Play Store.