Internet and Crossword

Google Lens

GOOGLEhas an excellent search facility, called Google Lens. You might have to download the app, but it should work if you just go to www.google.co.uk

Google has had a microphone on its search options for a while, which I think we have covered before, but is well worth checking out – just tap on the microphone (you might have to give permission to continue) and then ask it whatever you want – e.g. What is 5€ in pounds (which is £4.23 at time of writing).

But Google Lens is a relatively new addition, which I find works quite well. Same as everything, it is not perfect, but then what is?

Tap on the camera icon on the right of the search options (you might have to give permission to access your camera) and it will focus on whatever you are pointing at (my screen in this case!), and put white corners round the bit it thinks you want to capture. You can move these corners to focus on exactly what you want and then if you press the shutter button (the one with the magnifying glass on it), it will take a shot and straightaway start to search. Interestingly, because I took a photo of part of a picture, it didn’t search for grapes, it searched for paintings of grapes! I find it works well with a lot of things, and will often identify plants really well.

There are other options apart from Search, such as Translate. For some languages, you simply point your camera at the words and it will change into English before your eyes on the screen.

Enjoy, as they say!

Submitted for I.T. for the Terrified by Lynne Duckett. Although we have stopped our one-to-one tuition, we will continue with this column to keep the name alive. This article is for guidance only, and the opinion of the writer. I.T. for the Terrified –it4ttcvh@gmail.com

The Mendip Mindbender

ACROSS

1 Modern day resident of what was Rhodesia (10) 6 Large slender waterbird with long legs, neck and a longcurved bill. (4) 9 Very large –after a giant by

“Rabelais” (10) 10 . . . and others? (2,2) 12 Some job at hand? We'll soon see (4,3,5) 15 A group of four (7) 16 This day’s child is full of grace (7) 17 Film directors who influence their films so much that they rank as their authors (7) 19 Minehead was once known as ??????? of Exmoor (7) 20 Door openers designed to fit many locks (8,4) 23 Cadence or intonation (4) 24 Regime using the restriction of carbohydrates to lose weight (6,4) 25 Describing lively and active older people (4) 26 Amazon's TV supply deserves this description (5,5)

DOWN

1 Goes with zigs (4) 2 The longest village in

Somerset (4) 3 South African lily with blue and white flowers (12) 4 Harbour town 9 miles east of 19 across and at the mouth of the Washford River (7) 5 Opposed to, unfavourable to, or in contact with (7) 7 Butane, Calor or propane (7,3) 8 Using a description or title of one’s own (4-6) 11 An herbaceous plant that typically has small white and yellow flowers (5,7) 13 The name Romans used for the first part of 12 across (5,5) 14 Part of a cruet or a dungeon used to imprison sailors (4,6) 18 An American term for a gun (7) 19 Adherents of this religion wear turbans and are mainly found in the Punjab (7) 21 Capital of Ukraine (4) 22 The sun is the closest one to earth (4)

By greendandelion

Clues in italics are cryptic