The World Lens app by QuestVisual was introduced in 2010 and used a typical smartphone camera to convert printed text in real time. Here’s the video announcing the product:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2OfQdYrHRs]

Google recently integrated the technology in their translate app, so now with a single app you can perform a variety of translation tasks. With the World Lens app, additional languages required an in-app purchase. The Google product will include 36 languages for free.

Learn More

Here are some resources to learn more about the technology.

• Apple iTunes Store Page for the Translate app
• Google Play Store Page for the Translate app
• Google adds Word Lens technology to Translate app (ZDNet, 14 Jan 2015)
• Google’s New Language Translation App Is Astonishing (Business Insider, 15 Jan 2015)
• Hands-on: Google Translate Is Now a Way Better Travel Companion (Time, 14 Jan 2015)
• Updated Google translate app doesn’t need Internet (CNBC, 14 Jan 2015)