Google Lens
You ever wish you could Google something you’re looking at, something you don’t know the name of? That’s what Google Lens can do. It is a visual search engine. Just point your smartphone camera at an object, an image, even a plant, and the app can give you information about it.
- Point it at text in one language and translate it into another.
- Point it at a math problem and it will help you find a solution.
- Point it at any text—and the app will read it out loud to you.
- Point it at an auto part and it will tell you the name of the part.
- Point it at a motherboard and it will spot the code and immediately find the motherboard online
Get the picture? Pun intended.
Augmented reality and machine learning get cooler every year, and this app is not only one of the most fun ways to play around with it, it might also become one of the most useful tools on our phones.
Access Google Lens on an Android in Google Play or try going to Google, it may already be there if you have a new phone. You can also use Google Assistant: Say “Ok Google” and at the bottom right tap Google Lens.
On an iphone, make sure you download the latest version of the Google App. Open the app and click the Google Lens icon to the right to the search bar, right beside the microphone. Google will ask for permission to access your iPhone camera, click OK and you are ready to use it.
- Once permission is granted, the Google screen will transform into your camera. As you scan your environment, Google Lens will activate by popping little bubbles across the screen.
- Tap any of the bubbles to get more information and a Google analysis of what you’re looking at.
