Discover a Google tool you might have overlooked. Here’s how travelers can make the most of it
Corrections & Clarifications: In an earlier version of this article, a directional feature was mistakenly identified as part of the Lens tool, but it doesn’t belong to that array of Google products.
NEW YORK ― Central Park ranks among the top tourist spots in New York City. However, walking its meandering paths can raise numerous questions for visitors. Who created this statue? What’s the name of that bridge? When was it constructed? How can I rent a rowboat on the pond?
Travelers typically turn to their smartphones for answers, and Google is enhancing its Lens visual search feature to serve as a better resource for these curious minds.
“With advancements in computer vision technology, this is a fantastic way to satisfy the pressing need for travelers to search their surroundings using a camera or image,” Jenny Blair, a senior product manager for Google Lens, shared during a demo tour YSL News attended earlier this summer in Central Park.
While Lens increasingly uses AI to improve its responses and suggestions, Blair clarified that Google doesn’t view it as a substitute for local tour guides, as the information Lens provides is generally basic.
“Our perspective is that you have specific questions, and here you can easily get answers, but a tour guide has in-depth knowledge about the area,” she noted. “They possess insights you might not even think to inquire about. We believe that while Google can’t replicate that expertise, we can assist in addressing your questions while you explore independently.”
However, the AI-generated results occasionally miss the mark. During the Central Park tour, a YSL News reporter took a picture of the carousel and asked for the ride’s cost. The AI provided mixed and incorrect details. Eventually, the accurate price – $4 – was confirmed by checking the sign at the ticket booth.
Nevertheless, Lens is beneficial for helping travelers navigate, especially in unfamiliar locations, even if it isn’t quite ready to be the ultimate all-in-one tool.
Lens can also assist with real-time translations of foreign text using augmented reality. Simply point your camera at text in another language, and it will convert it instantly to your preferred language on your device.
Lens is accessible through the Google app for both Android and iOS platforms. Google has indicated that its translation feature is also available within the Google Translate app.
Three ways travelers can utilize Lens
- Translate text in languages such as menus or road signs.
- Get oriented in a new city with augmented reality details. Discover what’s nearby, its hours, and read reviews with Lens in Maps by simply pointing your camera.
- Combine image and text searches for information when you’re unsure about something you see.
