Google talks Strine: search engine can now understand Australian accents

Problem of poor voice recognition of Australian accents has been addressed, as well as recognition of slang terms and difficult place names

Google has improved voice searches for phone and computer applications to help it understand Australian accents and slang terms such as footy and servo.

It has also improved its ability to recognise difficult place names such as Tibooburra and Unanderra, and can now recognise the term "drop bear", an Australian slang term used to describe a fictional bear-like animal that drops from trees.