Use Google Translate with Your Smartphone Camera

 By Tracey Dowdy

 Last summer, when my daughter completed her study abroad program, I had the opportunity to travel with her throughout Spain and France. She had been studying Spanish and living with native Spanish speakers, so our adventures in Barcelona were language-barrier free. However, my French is very basic and très rouillé – very rusty.

I opened every conversation in Bordeaux and Paris with, “Excusez moi, je parle Français comme un enfant,” which translates as, “Excuse me, I speak French like a child.” This generally prompted a laugh, and we’d switch to English. However, my conversation opener wasn’t much help if I came across unfamiliar words in the train station or on a menu, two places you don’t necessarily want to go with a roll of the dice.

Thank God for Google Translate. I’ve long used it for translation in my work, but this trip showcased its diversity and ability to translate everything from handwritten notes to street signs.

A recent update to the Google Translate camera tool has added 60 additional languages for a total of 88 languages in its database. One of the best features of this update is the app’s ability to detect what language is being used. This is particularly helpful if you’re translating similar yet distinctly different languages like Spanish and Portuguese.

Here’s how to use Translate text using your phone’s camera:

  • Download the app on iTunes or the Google Play Store.
  • Tap your Camera icon, and once you’ve noted the features available, tap Continue.
  • You’ll need to give Google Translate permission to access your camera. If you have privacy concerns, you can always go in and manually change your settings when you’re not using the app.
  • Once you’ve given permission, your in-app camera will open.
  • Change the languages at the top to Detecting Language and the language you want to be your default/preferred language.
  • Point your camera at the text you want to translate.
  • If you want a still frame of the text, Tap Pause translation.
  • When you’re ready, select Continue Translation and move to the next set of text to be translated.

You can also pull up a picture from your phone’s camera roll to be translated.

  • Open the Google Translate app
  • Select the Camera icon.
  • Tap Import in the bottom right corner.
  • Select the photo.
  • Use your finger to highlight the text to be translated.
  • Alternatively, you can tap the Scan icon. This allows you to snap a picture translate with a swipe of your finger. 

Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.

Comments:

  1. Appreciating the time and effort you put into your website and in depth information you offer.
    It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same outdated rehashed material.
    Wonderful read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  2. My brother recommended I might like this blog. He was totally right.

    This post truly made my day. You cann’t imagine just how
    much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

  3. Hiya very nice website!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing ..

    I’ll bookmark your site and take the feeds additionally…I’m happy to
    find numerous helpful info here within the put up, we need develop extra strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing.

    Feel free to surf to my web-site; Fast Dash Keto Pills

  4. You actually make it seem so easy along with your presentation however
    I to find this matter to be actually one thing which I
    think I would by no means understand. It kind of feels too complex and extremely vast for me.
    I am looking ahead for your next submit, I’ll try to get the hang of it!

    Check out my homepage … WifiLift Reviews

  5. I would like to use the ability of thanking you for that professional direction I have usually enjoyed browsing your
    site. I am looking forward to the actual commencement of my college
    research and the entire preparation would never have
    been complete without browsing your web blog. If I could be of any help to
    others, I’d personally be ready to help as a result of
    what I have discovered from here.

    Here is my blog post Cool Wave Portable AC

  6. Excellent goods from you, man. I’ve be mindful your
    stuff previous to and you’re simply extremely fantastic.

    I really like what you have bought right here, certainly like what
    you are saying and the way wherein you are saying it.
    You are making it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it sensible.
    I can not wait to learn much more from you. That is really a wonderful site.

    my web site: declining testosterone

  7. Hey there just wanted to give you a quick heads up.
    The text in your content seem to be running off the
    screen in Chrome. I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let
    you know. The design and style look great though! Hope you
    get the problem resolved soon. Kudos

    my web-site – lost weight

  8. Thank you a lot for providing individuals with such a splendid
    possiblity to read from this blog. It’s always so excellent and stuffed with a lot
    of fun for me and my office peers to visit your web site at
    a minimum thrice in 7 days to read through the newest stuff you have.

    Not to mention, I’m so actually contented with all the attractive tactics you serve.
    Selected 4 facts in this article are particularly the best we have
    all ever had.

    Also visit my site :: top ten skin

  9. I’ve been browsing on-line greater than 3 hours these days, yet I by
    no means discovered any fascinating article like yours.
    It is beautiful value sufficient for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made excellent content as you did, the web
    can be a lot more helpful than ever before.

    my web site … Finlay

  10. Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after reading through some of the post I realized it’s new
    to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely delighted I
    found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back often!

  11. 4) Petrol Ofisi. Petrol Ofisi eskiden yerli bir marka iken markayı,
    3 yıl önce Hollandalı bir şirket satın aldı.
    5) Hayat Su. Adı ne kadar hayat olsa da Hayat Su, Fransız
    Danone’ye ait bir marka. 6) Yedigün. Yerli gazlı içecek olarak bilinen Yedigün, bir Amerikan şirketi olan Pepsi Co’ya ait bir marka.
    7) Cola Turka.

  12. Şaplak porno hd videolar. Sex Within; Popüler; Yeni; Uzun;
    Alice Smack şaplak kendini chunese şaplak liseli şaplak şaplak tüpleri siyah çocuk şaplak yanan kırmızı kıçına şaplak amatör sürtük
    şaplak hint ridesouth afrika hint orospular güney hint.
    05:48.

  13. I’ve been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or weblog posts in this
    sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually
    stumbled upon this site. Studying this info So i am satisfied to show that I’ve an incredibly just right uncanny feeling I found out just what I needed.
    I such a lot indisputably will make sure to
    don?t put out of your mind this site and provides it a glance regularly.

  14. Wonderful goods from you, man. I have take
    into accout your stuff previous to and you are just
    extremely fantastic. I really like what you’ve acquired right here, really like what you’re stating and the way
    in which in which you are saying it. You are making it
    enjoyable and you still care for to keep it wise.

    I cant wait to learn far more from you. This is actually a
    terrific site.

  15. Hey exceptional website! Does running a blog similar to this require a large amount of
    work? I have very little knowledge of computer programming however I was
    hoping to start my own blog in the near future.

    Anyway, should you have any ideas or tips for new blog owners please share.
    I know this is off subject but I just had to ask. Kudos!

  16. It is the best time to make a few plans for the longer term and it
    is time to be happy. I’ve read this put up
    and if I may just I want to counsel you few attention-grabbing things or advice.

    Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article.

    I desire to learn even more issues approximately it!

  17. I do accept as true with all the ideas you have offered to your post.
    They are very convincing and can certainly work. Still, the posts are
    too brief for novices. May just you please lengthen them a little from next time?
    Thank you for the post.

  18. I used to be suggested this blog via my cousin. I am no longer certain whether this submit is written via him as nobody else recognize such precise approximately my problem.
    You’re wonderful! Thanks!

  19. Greetings from Ohio! I’m bored at work so I decided to browse your blog on my iphone during lunch break.
    I love the info you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
    I’m amazed at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile ..
    I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, wonderful blog!

  20. I’m curious to find out what blog platform you are using?
    I’m experiencing some minor security problems with
    my latest website and I’d like to find something more secure.

    Do you have any solutions?

  21. This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger.
    I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your excellent
    post. Also, I have shared your website in my social networks!

  22. Hi there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where
    I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form?
    I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having difficulty finding
    one? Thanks a lot!

  23. I don’t know if it’s just me or if everyone else encountering problems with your site.
    It appears as though some of the text on your posts are running off the
    screen. Can someone else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to them as
    well? This may be a issue with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen previously.
    Kudos

  24. Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful &
    it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and help
    others like you helped me.

  25. I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great.
    I do not know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you
    are not already 😉 Cheers!

  26. Wonderful items from you, man. I have bear in mind your
    stuff prior to and you are simply too excellent. I really like what you’ve obtained here, really like what you are saying and the way in which you assert
    it. You’re making it entertaining and you continue to
    take care of to stay it smart. I can not wait to learn far more from you.
    That is actually a terrific site.

  27. I do accept as true with all the ideas you’ve offered for your post.
    They’re very convincing and will certainly work.
    Still, the posts are too quick for starters. May
    just you please prolong them a little from subsequent time?
    Thank you for the post.

  28. Wow that was odd. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear.

    Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say excellent
    blog!

  29. You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation however I to find this topic
    to be really something that I believe I might never understand.
    It kind of feels too complex and extremely huge for me.
    I’m taking a look forward for your next publish, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!

  30. I for all time emailed this web site post page to all my
    friends, because if like to read it then my links will too.

  31. I’m really loving the theme/design of your blog.
    Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility problems?
    A handful of my blog audience have complained about my website not working correctly in Explorer but looks
    great in Safari. Do you have any recommendations to help fix this problem?

  32. First off I would like to say terrific blog! I had a quick question that I’d
    like to ask if you do not mind. I was curious to know
    how you center yourself and clear your mind before writing.
    I have had a hard time clearing my mind in getting my ideas out.
    I do take pleasure in writing however it just seems like the first
    10 to 15 minutes are generally lost simply just trying to figure out how
    to begin. Any suggestions or tips? Thank you!

  33. What i do not realize is in fact how you’re no longer really
    much more smartly-preferred than you may be
    right now. You’re very intelligent. You know thus considerably relating
    to this topic, produced me in my view consider it
    from numerous various angles. Its like women and men are not interested unless it is something to do with Girl gaga!

    Your individual stuffs outstanding. Always care for it
    up!

  34. Excellent pieces. Keep writing such kind of info on your page.

    Im really impressed by your site.
    Hi there, You’ve done a fantastic job. I’ll definitely digg it and
    in my opinion suggest to my friends. I’m confident they’ll be benefited
    from this site.

  35. I was recommended this web site by my cousin. I’m not sure
    whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such
    detailed about my difficulty. You’re wonderful! Thanks!

  36. This is my first time pay a visit at here and i am actually impressed to read everthing at single place.

  37. I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the structure of your website?
    Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
    But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better.

    Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two images.
    Maybe you could space it out better?

  38. Heya i’m for the primary time here. I came across this board and I find
    It truly useful & it helped me out much. I am hoping to give one thing again and aid others such as you aided me.

  39. Thank you for another informative website. Where else may I get that type of info
    written in such an ideal approach? I’ve a undertaking
    that I’m just now working on, and I have been at the look out for such information.

  40. Hi, everything is going fine here and ofcourse
    every one is sharing facts, that’s in fact excellent, keep up writing.

  41. Do you have a spam issue on this blog; I also am a blogger, and I
    was wondering your situation; we have developed some nice practices and we are looking to trade strategies with other folks, please shoot me an email if
    interested.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *