Learning through the (Google) Lens
Revisiting Google Lens - what have the last five years brought us and how can we use Lens to promote informal learning for our visitors?
After making a splash at the start of the decade, it feels that Google Lens has somewhat faded from our consciousness, superseded by more recent developments in Generative AI. For learning officers in museums, archives, galleries, and other heritage settings however, it's worth revisiting how invaluable this augmented reality tool can be for facilitating and deepening informal learning. Its real-time translation capabilities also raise interesting ethical questions and provide new opportunities to engage visitors particularly in bilingual and multilingual settings.
Google Lens: A Tool for Informal Learning
Google Lens is an AI-powered tool that uses your smartphone's camera to identify objects, translate text, and provide information about the world around you. It’s available as an app on Android phones, or through the Google, Google Photos, or Chrome app on any device. By simply pointing your camera at an object, you can access a wealth of information, making it an invaluable resource for informal learning environments.
In heritage settings, Google Lens can transform the way visitors interact with our spaces and exhibits, allowing them to instantly access detailed information and related multimedia content. For example, in a museum, visitors can use Lens to scan QR codes or exhibit labels to receive additional information, watch related videos, or even participate in interactive quizzes. This can turn a passive visit into an active learning experience, encouraging deeper engagement with the exhibits.
Opportunities
One of the most exciting features of Google Lens is its ability to translate text in real-time. This may be particularly beneficial in bilingual and multilingual settings, where visitors may come from diverse linguistic backgrounds. By pointing their camera at exhibit labels or informational texts, visitors can receive translations in their preferred language, making the content accessible to a broader audience.
In addition to translation, Google Lens can also read text aloud, which can be a valuable tool for visitors with visual impairments or those who prefer auditory learning. This feature ensures that everyone, regardless of their language proficiency or learning preference, can fully engage with the exhibits.
Practical Applications
Ways you might incorporate Lens into your informal learning:
Create self-guided tours where visitors use Google Lens to scan exhibits and access multimedia content, translations, and interactive elements.
Ensure all exhibit information is accessible in multiple languages through Google Lens, enhancing the experience for international visitors.
Incorporate Google Lens into educational programs and workshops, allowing participants to explore and learn in a dynamic, interactive manner.
Use the text-to-speech feature to support visitors with visual impairments or those who prefer auditory learning.
Ethical Considerations
Lens’ translation feature can enhance accessibility, but it also raises important ethical considerations for us as custodians of learning. Working alongside interpretation colleagues we understand that it is important that translators, where they are employed, should convey the original meaning accurately, understand the cultural and historical context, and be aware of cultural nuances. Leaving this to an app may have unintentional consequences, completely changing the meaning or causing offense. Balancing accessibility with authenticity is crucial, as over-simplifying or altering content can lead to a loss of depth and meaning.
Benefits and Pitfalls of Google Lens
Google Lens offers instant accessibility, enhanced learning, cost-effectiveness, multilingual support, and interactive learning experiences. However, it also has pitfalls such as potential accuracy issues, lack of cultural and historical context, and dependence on smartphones and internet connectivity.
Finding the Balance
For organisations that are interested in Lens and its translation capabilities for a variety of resource and access reasons, it is important to strike a balance. Particularly when considering the role of Google Lens and professional translators. The following may be considered a starting point:
Initial Translations by Professionals: It is very important to use professional translators for key exhibits and materials to ensure high quality and accuracy.
Supplementary Use of Google Lens: Encourage visitors to use Google Lens for additional information and real-time translations of less critical content. Especially helpful if you have additional resources online that you can’t squeeze in to your exhibition or event.
Training and Support: Train staff to assist visitors in using Google Lens effectively. To help them you might include signage indicating where Lens is best used and some simple guides.
Feedback Mechanisms: Gather visitor input to continuously improve the balance between traditional informal learning and Google Lens. Lens provides a great way to augment an exhibition or heritage site and keep these resources up to date.
Are you using Google Lens? Let us know your tips for making the most of this tool!