Google Lens is the Mountain View's official company recognition app. It offers a wide range of interaction possibilities and has been adding new features since its announcement in 2017. Its main function is to analyze and recognize images in real time using the mobile camera. So understand what it's for Google Lens and how it is used is essential to get the most out of your Android.
The application works both on Android mobile phones, where it is usually installed by default, and even on phones with iOS. It can be installed manually to add its benefits to Apple devices.
What is Google Lens and what is it for?
The mobile app uses the phone's camera sensor and recognizes objects that are placed in front of them. Just point to them, and using Machine Learning functions the app analyzes and exposes what it is seeing. When the camera focuses on an object or text, the application takes care of recognizing what it says or what type of object it is. Then interaction options will appear, being able to translate into different languages, search the Internet, make phone calls, send text messages and more.
The actions that it proposes are not generic, but adapt to each recognized object or text. This ability to recognize and interact is the strength of Google Lens. It implies a new way of interacting with the world that surrounds us, based on the technical capabilities of the mobile. On the other hand, Google Lens does not work alone. The Google application synchronizes your interaction options with other apps installed on the phone. Its operation is even incorporated with other Google apps such as Photos and Assistant, allowing quick analysis with a dedicated button, for example.
The Google Lens interface
The overall design of Google Lens is quite intuitive. The main screen has 5 different buttons. The central offers automatic interaction with the environment. It analyzes all the images and shows the best interaction options and results depending on the environment. The left and right buttons are used for more specific searches.
On the far left we find the translation and text management options, and on the right online shopping search and management. Although they are interaction options that you can force, in automatic mode they should also appear as alternatives.
Lastly, how Google Lens works incorporates two different modalities. The most used is to perform interactions with what we record through the camera. This allows actions in real time with what our camera shows us. On the other hand, there is the modality of analysis of our own photos in the gallery. This provides a wide extra range of interaction options with images that we consider useful.
Steps for installing Google Lens
Install Google Lens It's very simple. On recent devices, it is already built directly into the Android operating system. But if you don't have it, you can directly access the Google Play Store and download it.
On iOS devices the procedure is a bit more complex. As there is no separate application, you will have to install the generic Google app from the App Store. Once installed, at the top of the screen will be the Google Lens icon. To use it you will always have to enter this app and press said button.
Another way to use Google Lens is through the Google Assistant. Using voice commands for interaction with different images captured by the camera. In turn, using Google Photos to analyze images in the gallery is also a secondary way of using Lens.
What is Google Lens for?
In this list you will find the most common interactions offered by the Google application. The main actions that the intelligent recognition system proposed by Google can perform:
- Real-time text translation: Point to a text in another language for Google Lens to translate immediately.
- Word search: selecting individual words in a text to find out their meaning.
- Copy text in real time: copy information and text from an image to convert it into text documents.
- Make phone calls: identifies phone numbers and offers the option to contact.
- Add events to the calendar: build your calendar of activities by automatically incorporating important dates from flyers or texts.
- Read restaurant reviews: Located in front of a sign of an establishment, Google Lens will show you reviews to choose the one you like best.
- Book Information: Point to a title and Google Lens will search for the available summary and reviews.
- Search for products to buy: point to objects such as curtains, tables, chairs and Google Lens will search for their price in the main online stores.
Tricks to take advantage of Google Lens
The application offers some interesting actions that can make your day-to-day life easier. These Google Lens tricks will save you time when accessing specific mobile functions and actions. For example, we can connect to WiFi networks without having to type the password. Just point Google Lens at the sticker on the back of the modem and the network data will load automatically.
You can use the plant and animal identification trick, making Google Lens tell you exactly what species you come across; or translate multiple languages in a matter of seconds thanks to the combination of Google Lens and Translate.
Conclusions
Google Lens is a very broad proposal with the capacity for growth and development. From its presentation in 2017 has been incorporating new functions and possibilities of joint work. It is a great ally when it comes to visiting new places, helping to understand texts in another language, but also to select restaurants, shops or hotels, knowing reviews and opinions from other users in a few seconds. A great addition to the Google assistant, adding more features and scope to make your mobile phone an even more useful tool. Easy, fast and intuitive, it takes interaction levels to a new scale.
