Scan and Edit Text from Photos
So you can easily copy and paste long documents Workshop p38
GoogleLens is now available on almost all Android phones, plus iphones, having previously been an option only on Google Pixel phones. It scans photos from which you can extract any text it recognises (for example, on a gas bill, a passport or handwritten note). You can then share or
copy this to other apps on your device. If you have a photo of a business card, say, you can save all the details on it with one tap. The app also uses machine-learning technology to recognise famous buildings and landmarks, as well as books, plants and animals within your photos.
Step 1 To use Google Lens, you need to open the Google Photos app. If you already use this, skip to Step 2. If not, install the app (Android www.snipca.com/27334; IOS www.snipca.com/27335) and open it, log in using your Gmail account, tap the ‘Back up & sync’ slider, then tap Next. You’ll see two back-up options: Original 1 retains the original resolution of your images, but restricts you to 15GB of free storage space. High-quality 2 reduces the image quality slightly but provides unlimited storage. Tap the slider 3 if you’d like the option of backing up photos using mobile data. Finally, tap Done 4 to start backing up your photos.
STEP 2 We’ll first show you how to scan a photo containing text. Open Google Photos, then tap the image. The app will only recognise text from images in portrait mode. If your image is in landscape mode, tap the three lines at the bottom of the Photos app, then tap the Rotate icon (third in bottom row). Now keep tapping the Rotate icon 1 until your photo is the right way up in portrait mode. Tap Done 2 , then tap Save at the top right.
STEP 3 Open the saved photo, then tap the Google Lens icon (a dot inside a square grid). The app will scan your photo for any relevant information. If your photo contains dates 1 , you’ll see the option to add the first date to your calendar 2 . This opens your calendar app from where you can name the event, edit its details, set a reminder, add a location reminder, and more). To copy all the text in your photo, tap ‘Text selection’ 3 (you may need to scroll across the top to see this option).
STEP 4 You’ll now see all the text in your photo in a section at the bottom 1 . Tap inside the section to select it all. You’ll see options to run a web search for it 2 or share it 3 to compatible apps on your device (such as Facebook, Whatsapp or Gmail). Tap the three dots 4 to run a Wikipedia search for your item (if you have the Wikipedia app installed). Tap Copy 5 . Now open the app you want, tap and hold where you want to insert the text, then tap Paste. You can now edit any of the text if necessary.
STEP 5 You can also use the same method for saved screenshots containing text (for example, Whatsapp conversations or Facebook posts). Open the screenshot, tap the Lens icon, then ‘Text selection’ 1 . You’ll see all your text below. Tap to select it. You can then copy and paste it in the same way (as in Step 4). Google Lens also displays any relevant Wikipedia links 2 to subjects that appear within your text. It can recognise text in handwritten notes but its accuracy will depend on how legible the handwriting is.
Step 6 One of the best features of Google Lens is its ability to extract information from a photo of a business card and provide useful one-tap options. Open a photo of a business card within Google Photos, then tap the Google Lens icon. You’ll see the option to save that contact’s info (name, telephone number, email and home/work address) 1 to your device with one tap 2 . Scroll across the top row 3 to see options to call any of the numbers, send an email or get directions to the address on the card.
STEP 7 Google Lens can also recognise landmarks 1 . You’ll see the venue’s opening times 2 , a link to its Wikipedia page 3 and the option to run a web search 4 . Similarly, scan photos of books, music albums and DVDS to see links to read more about the item online. In addition it can scan barcodes and QR codes in your photos and identify a type of flower or species of animal - though these results aren’t always accurate. ●