Quest Visual Inc., a California corporation, announced last week that it has been acquired by Google Inc. The startup company created the application Word Lens back in 2010 that allows users to translate printed text into English or any other offered language using their smartphone cameras. 

The California corporation was founded back in 2009 by a four-person team operating out of San Francisco.

Google’s acquisition of the California corporation will be a great addition to their current translation application incorporated into the Google Glass. With Google Glass, all a user has to do is look at some text and it will automatically be translated. 

HOW IT WORKS 

The Word Lens application replaces foreign phrases and texts viewed by a user through their smartphones or Google Glass with a translated version of the same text. The font color, size and shape will remain exactly the same as the original. 

Users can choose what language they want the text to be translated to from a variety of different languages. WIth the flip of a camera or Google Glass, the application instantly translates the text into English 

This application will be useful for travelers in new countries who do not speak the language. Road signs, menus, and plain text will be translated into the elected language.

THE FUTURE

Anything Google touches turns to gold. Currently, the Word Lens application only translates texts between pairs of languages that include English. It is possible that with its acquisition, Google can expand the translation options to not require English as a language. 

Word Lens does not currently require Internet connection to translate texts. However, with its expansion to include more languages, it is possible the new Word Lens application will require Internet connection.

Regardless, Google’s acquisition means big things for the small California corporation. And as a thank you to its supporters, Quest Visual is offering the Word Lens application and all its language packs for a free download. So download the application now before the transition to Google is complete. 

On its website, the company stated that “by joining Google, we can incorporate Quest Visual’s technology into Google Translate’s broad language coverage and translation capabilities in the future.” 
 

Topics: Apps, Google Inc., Small Business