Search all text in New York City (alltext.nyc)

Article summary

A website called All Text in NYC allows users to search for text within images of New York City, using data from Google Street View. The site uses OCR technology to transcribe text from millions of publicly available panoramas. The accuracy of the text recognition has been questioned by some users, with many examples of incorrect matches. The site has been praised for its concept and potential uses, despite its limitations.

Main themes

• Text recognition technology
• Google Street View data
• Urban exploration
• OCR accuracy
• Data collection costs

What commenters say

• The text recognition accuracy on the All Text in NYC website is often poor, leading to humorous and incorrect matches.
• The site's concept is cool and has potential, but its execution is flawed due to the limitations of OCR technology.
• The cost of collecting and processing the data from Google Street View would be prohibitively expensive for individuals, likely requiring a significant budget or special arrangement with Google.
• The site could be useful for various purposes, such as searching for specific graffiti or exploring the city's urban landscape.
• Some users have found creative ways to use the site, such as searching for obscure words or playing games with the search results.
• The site's limitations and inaccuracies do not necessarily detract from its entertainment value or potential for discovery.
• The use of Google Street View data raises questions about data collection costs and the potential for individuals to access and utilize this data without incurring significant expenses.
• Despite its limitations, the site has sparked interesting discussions and explorations of the city's text-based landscape.