Google's new Hangouts platform delivers live video support

Google this week unveiled a new live video platform called Helpouts that the company says will deliver easy-to-access help tutorials on a wide variety of subjects ranging from fitness and nutrition to foreign languages and specialized skillsets.  

“What if getting help for a computer glitch, a leaky pipe, or a homework problem was as easy as clicking a button?” the company asked in a blog post. “What if you could connect via real-time video to a music teacher or a yoga instructor from the comfort of your home? What if you could get someone knowledgeable to get you 'unstuck' when you really need it?”

While live video support is not a new idea, Google hopes to improve on the concept by building a comprehensive platform that allows users to find the right person based on their qualifications, price and availability. Users will also be able to go through reviews to find out if others found the person helpful.

So far, Google seems to be treating the new service very much like a beta, noting that it will take some time for Helpouts to grow into itself and for users to figure out what situations the platform is best suited for. The company says the platform will launch with a small number of categories that will grow as more users join. “Our goal is simple: help people help each other. We want to use the convenience and efficiency of the web to enable everyone, no matter where they are or what time it is, to easily connect with someone who can help. Help might be a quick answer to a problem you’re having right now, like how to fix your garage door, or how to remove a computer virus; or it might be guidance completing a project, like building a deck.”

A cursory look through the Helpouts site reveals a variety of already-available services. Plumbing and sewer services are offered for $15 per hour. Answers to medical questions are available for $60 per hangout. Instruction in Caribbean cooking is available for free.

Google has asked anyone interested in providing support on Helpouts to request an invitation code here.