Google unveils mail application to help prevent drunken gaffes

Google has made a name for itself in the annals of innovation with such gems like Gmail, Picasa, Google Maps and the uncluttered search engine Google itself. Now, the Mountain View, California-based company has come out with an innovative product which is simplicity itself, but at the same time, extremely useful - Gmail Goggles.

Words and arrows, as many people know, have two things in common - once they have left to strike the target, they cannot be recalled. And, they can both hurt. With the recent foray of technology into everyday life, SMS's and emails can join the aforementioned weapons. And unlike words that can be denied, emails and SMS's stay on for ever in inboxes, unless specifically deleted by the recipient.

There have been numerous instances when a user, drunk or otherwise emotionally fragile, has sent forth a missive via email to his boss or girlfriend (or both) at night, only to regret it in the morning when sober.

Now, Google Labs, with its software engineer Jon Perlow, has developed an application that will provide a system of checks and balances before that incriminating email is sent out.

The Gmail Goggles program consists of a few mathematics questions that the user has to answer in about one minute. If he passes the test, he can forward the e-mail. If the alcohol keeps him from doing the calculations, Google will briefly tell him: ''Water and bed for you. Or try again''.

Of course, it's an optional application that can allow one to avoid it if he really doesn't want it to restrain his e-mail sending options when drunk. It is pre-set activated on Friday and Saturday nights, but the user can encounter the math problems every day if he really wants to. To activate it, one must simply log in to his Google account and activate the option from the Labs menu.

Now, that drunken emailing seems to have a solution, the search is still on for the problem of drinking and driving.