Google's Word Lens app translates ANYTHING using a phone's camera

While we wait for Google to release its much-rumoured Babel translation device, the firm has bought an app that is a worthy substitute. Word Lens uses augmented reality to translate text including road signs, menus, newspapers, and more by pointing a phone's camera towards it. Supported languages include Russian, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Portuguese - and for a limited time, the app and $10 (£6) language packs are free. Word Lens uses augmented reality to translate text including road signs (pictured), menus, newspapers, and more by pointing a phone's camera towards it. Last month Microsoft unveiled its new Skype Translator technology, which it claims can decode languages in real time.