Imagine finding yourself stranded on a busy and crowded street of China with no one around who can speak your language and sign boards that look like tattoos; there is just one thing that can save you in such a scenario...technology. 

Word Lens, an iPhone application by Quest Visual analyses text on any image and translates them instantly on your iPhone's screen. All you  need to do is point your camera towards a sign, menu or a document and through this app you will be able to see the translated text in real time. 

Otavio Good and John DeWeese have been working for more than 2 years on this project before finally rolling out an application that uses a camera to translate Spanish into English and vice-versa; with time they plan to incorporate major European languages and other languages around the globe. "We won't stop until we get all the way across the globe." shares their site. 

"It tries to find out what the letters are and then looks in the dictionary. Then it draws the words back on the screen in translation." explains Otavio.

Check out he videos below to learn more about this magic-like application:

Learn More.


For more interesting finds from our E-Scientist, you can join us on Facebook or subscribe with our blog.