How to write a post with ease using Google Lens

Google Maps tips & tricks
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Caption: A piece of paper with the inscription: Write+Capture+Google Lens=Typed and a pen beside it.
Caption: A piece of paper with the inscription: Write+Capture+Google Lens=Typed and a pen beside it.3264×2448 338 KB

I have an idea that I really want to share on Local Guides Connect. But unfortunately, I don’t have my phone with
me, and my laptop is on low battery. What do I do to make sure I don’t forget this brilliant idea?
The first thing you might suggest to me is to write it down, isn’t it? That is exactly what I can do since I have my pen and a sheet of paper with me. That is what is normally done, so I write down whatever I wanted to post on Connect or any other platform. Now what do I do when I have my phone back with me? I would just pick it up and start typing what I had written. Hmmm… don’t you think that would take longer to type, especially for people like me who are not fast typists like @AdrianLunsong and others?

This is where Google Lens comes in. Instead of retyping the whole write up, I can just take a picture of it and then use Google Lens to look up. With this powerful tool, I would be able to get the exact words in a typed form which I can copy and paste in the post section in Local Guides Connect or any writer. When I have finished with this, I can then include the necessary finishing and I would have saved a lot of time compared to if I had retyped everything.

To access this feature*,*

  1. Capture what you want to type.
  2. Open the image and look for Google Lens icon below it.
  3. Tap on the icon and some random shooting dots would be on the screen.
  4. You should see the Google Lens preview with Text selection, tap on it.
  5. Select the desired text and copy.
  6. Now you can paste it wherever you want to, and do the finishing touches.

If by any chance you do not have Google Lens, just update Google Photos or have it installed.

There is a limit to what this feature can do but at least it can help you to reduce the time you would spend in retyping a whole post when you had already written it down.

The picture below shows how i wrote this post with the aid of Google Lens

Caption: A screenshot of how Google Lens converts written texts into typed text. Inscription: Google Lens preview, Text selection, Local guides with Google logo. The three sections above are written texts divided into three paragraphs. Below it shows the text conversion with some errors due to blurred handwriting.
Caption: A screenshot of how Google Lens converts written texts into typed text. Inscription: Google Lens preview, Text selection, Local guides with Google logo. The three sections above are written texts divided into three paragraphs. Below it shows the text conversion with some errors due to blurred handwriting.720×1280 461 KB

To get the best of this feature you need to take note of these tips.

  • Your hand writing must be clearer. Otherwise, it would not be easily identified.
  • You need internet connection for the feature to function.
  • You must reread and edit your post to make sure the right words are captured.
  • Tables, images and special characters do not work with this feature for now.

So the next time you have something to type, you can write it down and use Google Lens to help you type with ease while you keep a written copy of your message or document.

This can also be used to make digital copy of a book or any document. (But make sure you observe the copy right rules of the publishers). Thank you and enjoy your day, but don’t hesitate to tell us what other simple means you use to make your typing easier in the comments box. If you use or have ever used Google Lens before, let us know your experience too.

#letsguide

#ConnectLive

32 Likes
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This is how the Google Lens icon looks like on my Android phone:Screenshot_20190524_224305.jpg

Cheers.

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This is good to know, @iamireku !!!

Thank you for sharing!!! Might be useful for the things alredy written.

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Indeed @uavalentine

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Great idea @iamireku ! I can’t use it because my handwriting is so bad!! Another idea that folks could try is to use voice dictation! If you’re using Google Docs, it has an option to do dictation. However, you need to be able to speak very clearly (and usually with an American accent!) for the software to transcribe your words properly! I’ve had mixed results with it and I’ve had to still go back and fix things.

And if you’re just wanting to take notes down, you can also do voice memos that are super fast. There’s a free service (do a Google search for Otter) that records your speech and transcribe it, so you can have both an audio and text version.

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Thank you for sharing about Google lens, @iamireku

I have unaccepted the “solution” given by you, because your post don’t need a solution. Please read: Tip: How to mark replies as solutions — “Accept as Solution” feature

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This is strange. I never awarded any posts the honor of being a solution. This is not my post. The owner awarded my answer to be a solution. I agree that this post don’t need a solution and it was odd that the owner awarded my reply to be a solution. @ErmesT I think you mixed up who is who.

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You are right @MortenCopenhagen , thank you for the feedback. We removed a huge amount of solutions yesterday (hopefully the green button will be fixed soon), and I tagged you by mistake. Fixed now

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Thanks for the info. It’s highly appreciated.

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