Iterative image search algorithm informed by continuous human-machine input feedback

A computer-implemented image search method, comprising the steps of:

• determining a plurality of digital images to present on a video display device of a computer, each of the digital images being associated with a plurality of tags;
• repeating, as long as human-machine inputs are received from a user input device indicating a like or dislike preference of a user for a selected digital image of the digital images, the steps of:
• processing the tags associated with the selected digital image to determine a next set of tags associated with a subsequent digital image to be presented on the video display;
• in response to the dislike preference, the processing including adjusting weights of at least some of those of the processed tags in the same category as the tags associated with the selected digital image so that the subsequent digital image has a different set of associated tags from those associated with the selected digital image, and replacing the selected digital image with the subsequent digital image on the video display device;
• in response to the like preference, the processing including adjusting weights of at least some of the processed tags so that the subsequent digital image has at least some of the same tags as those associated with the selected digital image, and presenting the subsequent digital image on the video display device;
• wherein the repeating causes the image search method to iteratively resolve toward at least one digital image presented on the video display device, which satisfies a subjective need of the user via the multiple human-machine inputs, and the repeating includes at least one like preference and at least one dislike preference.

A computer-implemented image search method, comprising the steps of:

• determining a plurality of digital images to present on a video display device of a computer, each of the digital images being associated with a plurality of tags;
• repeating, as long as human-machine inputs are received from a user input device indicating one of at least two input options for a selected image of the digital images, the at least two input options including a favorable indication of a preference for the image featured in one of the digital images and an unfavorable indication of a disinclination for the image featured in the one of the digital images, the steps of:
• processing the tags associated with the selected digital image to determine a next set of tags associated with a subsequent digital image to be presented on the video display;
• in response to the unfavorable indication, the processing including adjusting weights of at least some of those of the processed tags in the same category as the tags associated with the selected digital image so that the subsequent digital image has a different set of associated tags from those associated with the selected digital image, and replacing the selected digital image with the subsequent digital image on the video display device;
• in response to the favorable indication, the processing including adjusting weights of at least some of the processed tags so that the subsequent digital image has at least some of the same tags as those associated with the selected digital image, and presenting the subsequent digital image on the video display device;
• wherein the repeating causes the image search method to iterate toward at least one digital image presented on the video display device, which satisfies a subjective need of the user via the multiple human-machine inputs, and the repeating includes at least one favorable indication and at least one unfavorable indication.