Portable information device having real-time display with relevant information

A portable information device configured to be in communication with an information search server via an information communication network, the portable information device comprising:

• an image sensor configured to pick up an image of a subject;
• a locator configured to acquire position information about an image pickup position of the image sensor;
• an orientation sensor configured to acquire an orientation information corresponding to an imaging direction at the image pickup position;
• a display configured to display the image of the subject;
• and
• a controller configured to transmit an image information on the subject, the position information and the orientation information to the information search server via the information communication network, wherein
• the information search server (a) specifies the subject in the image, based on the image information, the position information and the orientation information, in reference to a database in the information search server, the database storing relevant information on a plurality of objects and position information on the objects, the relevant information being associated, in the database, with at least the position information, the information search server specifying the subject in the image by comparing a characteristic amount from image recognition of the subject in the image with a characteristic amount from image recognition of an image of a selected object of the plurality of objects in the database that is selected based on the position information and the orientation information, and (b) transmits the relevant information on the subject that has been specified to the portable information device via the information communication network, and
• the controller controls the display to display the relevant information transmitted by the information search server.