Google Lens actually can turn you into a mobile-tech magician, but it is really up to you to find it and also figure out how to put it to use. It is one of Google’s best-kept secrets and it can save you tons of time and effort. Google has officially launched Google Lens on the 4th of October 2017. They do not make a big deal about it, and you really have to go out of your way to even realize it exists.
Google Lens is best described as a search engine for the real world. It uses artificial intelligence to identify text and objects both within images and in a live view from your phone’s camera, and it then lets you learn about and interact with those elements in all sorts of interesting ways.
Picture: Google
These are 5 best Google Lens hidden features that you should know and use:
1) Make Lens Do Your Homework
If you Are stuck on a problem that you simply cannot solve, you could call Google Lens into action. It will scan your problem and hopefully churn up a step-by-step solution. Since it’s a much-celebrated feature, Google has created a separate space for solving homework. After launching Google Lens, go to the ‘Homework’ tab at the bottom of your screen. Now, scan the equation you want help with, and Lens will, hopefully, come up with some solutions.
2) Know More About Flowers, Animals Or Books
Google Lens has a knack for helping you find the stuff you love. But even if you’re not looking to buy, you can use the scanner to get more information about the world around you. For example, if you find a flower you don’t know much about, you can simply launch the Google Lens app, point the camera at the target, and scan the flower using the application. If it recognizes the species, you’ll see a bunch of relevant results populate your screen. As for books, you can not only get more information about them, but you will also get purchase links and relevant reviews. Google Lens can now recognize 15 billion real-world objects, which makes it an extremely handy tool for object detection.
3) Learn More About Buildings Around You
To get to know your nearby places, all you have to do is fire up Google Lens and head over to the ‘Nearby places’ tab. After granting location access, you’ll be able to see all the famous buildings, monuments, and restaurants around you. Also, you can always point your camera at the buildings and statues you wish to know more about and let Google Lens take care of the rest.
4) Scan And Copy Text
This is the most used Google Lens feature out there and deservedly so. Not only can you scan the text in front of your screen, to copy and share but you can also scan text snippets from books and save them without a hitch. To scan and copy text, first, launch the Google Lens application. Now, point the camera towards the text you want to copy. If the lighting is adequate, Lens will highlight the text automatically for you. Then, tap on it and hit ‘Copy text’ from the options bar that pops up from the bottom.
5) Translation On The Fly
Being able to translate a language you don’t speak, in real-time, is a blessing, especially if you’re stuck in an estranged land. With Google Lens, you’ll be able to scan an object with “alien” text in real-time and see it in a language you understand. To use real-time translation, first, launch the Google Lens app and go to the ‘Translate’ tab. Now, point your camera at the piece of text you want to translate. Once recognized, Google Lens will start translating the original text to the one you’re most comfortable in.
Sources: Nerds Chalk.
