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Word Lens is an augmented reality translation application from Quest Visual.[1] Word Lens uses the built-in cameras on smartphones and similar devices to quickly scan and identify foreign text (such as that found in a sign or a menu), and then quickly translate and display the words in another language on the device's display. The words are displayed in the original context on the original background, and the translation is performed in real-time without connection to the internet. For example, using the viewfinder of a camera to show a shop sign on a smartphone's display will result in a real-time image of the shop sign being displayed, but the words shown on the sign will be the translated words instead of the original foreign words. Word Lens is available for the Apple's iPhone, iPod, and iPad,[2] as well as for a selection of Android smartphones.[3] The application is free on Apple's iTunes, but an in-app purchase in necessary to enable translation capabilities.[2] On Google Play, there are both the free demo and the full translation-enabled versions of the application.[3] Word Lens 1.0 was released on December 16, 2010,[4] and received significant amount of attention soon after,[5][6][7][8][9][10][11] including Wired,[12] The Economist,[13] CNN,[14][15] The New York Times,[16][17] Forbes,[18] The Wall Street Journal,[19] MIT Technology Review,[20] and ~2.5 million views on YouTube in the first 6 days.[18] Since the application held a No. 1 position on the lists of Top Free Apps and Top Grossing Apps on iTunes for the few days following its release, it is currently described as Top In App Purchases.[2] This application is currently available as Word Lens 2.1.1.[2][3]