Microsoft app teaches English words using smartphone camera

Another useful product to emerge out of the Microsoft Garage project is a smartphone app that helps users improve their English literacy skills.

Called Read My World, the Android app is aimed at low literacy and English Language Learning adults who want to improve their skills by building a stronger vocabulary.

The app uses Computer Vision APIs and leverages the smartphone camera to teach new words from the world around. A user can begin by taking photos of items around them to identify the object. The app shows the spelling as well as the pronunciation of the object, which can then be added to one's personal dictionary for practice.