Real-time Computer Vision predictions in Seek by iNaturalist 2.0

What might be most useful in an educational application of Seek would be a setting that would allow the user to enter an identification. In a class situation the teacher might be/should be assisting students with identifications. When the app simply drops through to “Dicot” or family level ID, the option to enter a species level identification would be helpful. Perhaps a dropdown species appearing as in iNaturalist when one starts typing a genus and species. This should not be a default behavior, the app should remain simple for elementary school children. The option to specify species when not identified by the computer vision should be a setting tucked away on a settings menu. Getting “duress” secondary school users off of iNaturalist will likely require having the option to specify the genus and species. When a commonly cultivated plant such as Jasminum sambac is left at the dicot level, that feels problematic and seems likely to drive a secondary school instructor back to iNaturalist where they can have the students specify the plant. I look forward to the evolution of Seek as a way to help those of us who teach.

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