Is this a bug I should be worried about?

This post is part of a series dedicated to mobile devices. The BIG idea is learning new ways to make the most out of the phones we carry. All the recommendations will be free.

Scenario

There are times when I see something I want to quickly identify but I don't have the time to google a million similar images of the thing. I wish there was a way my phone could identify things through the camera.

Solution

Google Lens! It uses the power of your camera to help identify whatever it is pointed at. I have used it to identify plants, bugs, rashes on my kids, and more. While it isn't perfect, it does a pretty good job.

Getting Started

Update the Google app on your device.

You might need to search Google on your device to see if there is an update. My iPad didn't show an update was available until I searched for the specific app.

You can also visit the Lens page and install the app through the QR codes.

Next Steps

I opened Google on my iPad.

Lens can be accessed by clicking the small camera icon on the far right.

The Google widget on my home screen has the Lens to the far right. Click to access.

Click the camera to begin.

You could also add an existing image that is already on your camera roll, it will perform the same image search as clicking the icon.

Whatever is within the target area will be searched.

The results will appear at the bottom. You can now identify whatever you just took a picture of.

Do Now

Go find a bug or plant and test it out. It should also help with math problems.

Comments

Like your ELMO but with an iPad (elementary classroom teachers)

I used AirServer to create the infinity mirror effect. We were in a meeting today and Dominic told us about this fantastic idea. As we discussed all things technology he explained one method of using the iPad as a portable ELMO. It was too cool not to share. Step 1 Make sure you have AirServer running on your laptop. 1. Click the Windows key on your keyboard or click the icon in the lower left of your screen. 2. Just start typing AirServer. 3. Click AirServer. Don't see it? Contact technology or your building tech person. Step 2 Connect your teacher iPad to your laptop. 1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Start by swiping in the bezel, the black plastic part surrounding the screen. 2. Click AirPlay Mirroring. 3. Click your name. Step 3 Open the camera app and instant portable ELMO! Anything you see in the camera's len will be broadcast to the big screen. I just used this method to take a picture of my notebook as a demonstration of how co

Who is emailing me? The Blue Man Group??? (Add an image to your Google account.)

WHY It is always nice to put a face with a name. Sometimes we need a tiny little reminder of what someone looks like because we don't see them very often. Follow these steps to add/change the image associated with your Google account. HOW Open your email. Click your image. It might just be a blue circle if you have not added something already. Click Change . Find an image you like. Your amazing new image will appear. From now on everyone can put a name to a face!

Annotate PDF? How might I do that?

So I have a PDF and I need to edit it. Here is one method that works pretty well for me. Open Word. Click File . 1. Click Open . 2. Click Browse . 3. Find the PDF you want to annotate. 4. Click Open . Click OK when you see this box. Bam! Your PDF now opens in Word. Note: you maybe have to click Enable Editing at the top of the screen. Finished editing and want to turn it back into a PDF? Click File . 1. Click Save As . 2. Click This PC . 3. Pick a location. I usually save things to my desktop. 4. Click Save as type - and choose PDF. 5. Click Save .

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