Language barriers can be a pain when traveling overseas, and translation books aren’t really convenient to use. If you are overseas and find yourself confounded over an indecipherable language, consider the Word Lens app from Quest Visual.
The app is available on iOS, Android and Google Glass. Using augmented reality, users can point their phone’s camera at a foreign text and see the translated version on their screen. Word Lens deciphers and translates the words in real time using optical character recognition on frames of video. For data-conscious travelers, the best feature might be the fact that it does not require an Internet connection, making this the perfect translator for even the most remote destinations.
Word Lens isn’t perfect, and is capable of making translation mistakes. The app also has trouble with stylized text and handwriting. So far only Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Russian language packs are available, though more are expected to come out in the future.
Google recently acquired Quest Visual to incorporate Word Lens into their Google Translate service so the app and all available language packs are now free. To see the app in action, check out the video below.
Read This Next
JBL Flip 2: Never Go Without Music Again
Entertainment
Sep 19, 2014#TrazeeTravel
Insta FeedDining/Entertainment
Nov 20, 2024Experience the Only Restaurant Made Entirely of Ice in America
You’ve heard of ice hotels, but what about ice restaurants? When ice Hôtel de Glace de Québec opens in January 2025, it will be home to the only restaurant made entirely of snow and ice in America thanks to a partnership with Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac.
Sponsored Content
Seoul: Your Favorite Worldwide City
Seoul is the place for your next bleisure destination.
Destinations
Nov 20, 2024What Destinations Are Trending in 2025?
Luxury travel company Scott Dunn looks ahead to 2025 with predictions of hot destinations to visit. These focus on under-explored locations, sustainable tourism and exclusive experiences.
Destinations / Europe
Nov 20, 2024Where to Find the Best Stargazing Spots in Ireland
This year, the Northern Lights put on quite the display across Ireland, but don’t think these lights are the only thing you can see in Ireland. In fact, many spots across the country provide some of the best opportunities to stargaze thanks to low levels of light pollution. Ireland has three International Dark Sky Parks and even more spots which, although not accredited, are worth a visit for anyone wishing to see the sky in its unfiltered form.
Sponsored Content
Discover Greece’s Tower Towns: A Journey Through History
Greece's tower towns offer a captivating blend of history, architecture and stunning landscapes that make them perfect for curious travelers. These towns, particularly found in the Mani region of the Peloponnese, are defined by stone towers built during the medieval period. Constructed for both defense and as symbols of family pride, the towers stand as a testament to the region's turbulent history and its residents’ resilience.
Hotel
Nov 19, 2024A New Ritz-Carlton Comes to Cancún
After a hiatus, The Ritz-Carlton brand is coming back to Cancún, with the 2027 opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Cancún, Punta Nizuc.
ShareThis