Using Google's Assamese OCR support on Android and iOS devices

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is an effective way to convert printed text into digital text for use on the internet. Google has OCR support for multiple languages, including Assamese. You can use this feature to convert an image of printed Assamese matter into Assamese digital text. Google provides this support on Android devices (smartphones and tablets) and on iPhone/iPad. This post details the steps necessary to enable and to use Google's Assamese OCR feature on these devices.

• Instructions for Android devices 
• Instructions for iPhone/iPad

Instructions for Android devices

Step 1: Ensure Google Lens is on your device

Ensure that you have the latest version of the Google Lens app installed on your Android phone or tablet. If you don't have Google Lens installed on your device, you can install that free app from the Google Play Store. Here is the direct link.

Step 2: Get an image of the printed Assamese text

You can use your device's camera to take a photo of the printed Assamese text you wish to convert using OCR. If you already have a photo of the printed text on your device, you can skip this step

Step 3: Open the Google Lens app

1. From the list of photos shown in the app, tap the thumbnail of the photo with the printed Assamese text that you wish to convert using OCR
2. The screen will change with your photo opened to a larger size. At the bottom of the image, tap on Text
3. You should see a message below it saying 'Text found in image'
4. Tap on Select all as show in the example screenshot below
   
   
   
5. You should now see Copy text as shown in the example screenshot below. Tap on it
   

The OCR-converted text is now copied to your device. You can now paste that text into any app you can type in, e.g. Gmail or WhatsApp, just like you paste any other text in the app. 

Instructions for iPhone/iPad

Step 1: Ensure Google Photos is on your device

Ensure that you have the latest version of the Google Photos app installed on your iPhone or iPad. If you don't have Google Photos installed on your device, you can install that free app from the App Store. Here is the direct link.

Step 2: Get an image of the printed Assamese text

You can use your device's camera to take a photo of the printed Assamese text you wish to convert using OCR. If you already have a photo of the printed text on your device, you can skip this step.

Step 3: Open the Google Photos app

1. From the list of photos shown in the app, tap the thumbnail of the photo with the printed Assamese text that you wish to convert using OCR
2. The screen will change with your photo opened to a larger size. At the bottom of the image, tap on Copy text from image
3. You should see a blue overlay showing the selected text
4. Adjust the selection to cover all the text you want to extract from the image
5. After you are satisfied with your selection, click on Copy text at the bottom as shown in the example screenshot below
   

The OCR-converted text is now copied to your device. You can now paste that text into any app you can type in, e.g. Gmail or WhatsApp, just like you paste any other text in the app. 

Using handwriting to write in Assamese on your Android device

Your Android device (phone or tablet) has support for writing in the Assamese script using your handwriting. The words you handwrite will appear as if they were typed. You can use this feature as an alternative to typing letters on a traditional keyboard. This post details the steps necessary to enable and use this feature on your device.

Step 1: Ensure Gboard is on your device

Your Android phone or tablet can use one or more available keyboards (e.g. device-vendor specific keyboards like Samsung keyboard, or other keyboards like Swype or Gboard). To use Assamese handwriting on your device, you will need the Gboard keyboard installed and enabled on the device. If you don't have Gboard installed on your device, you can install that free app from the Google Play Store. Here is the direct link.

Once you are sure that Gboard is installed, here are the settings to check next:

1. Go to your device main screen and click on Settings
2. Tap on General Management
3. Tap on Keyboard list and default
4. Find Gboard in the list and enable it
5. Leave any other keyboards in the list as is
6. Tap on Default Keyboard
7. Select Gboard if it is not already selected
8. Exit Settings

Step 2: Turn on Assamese Handwriting

1. Open any app that you can type in, like Gmail or WhatsApp
2. Tap where you can enter text. Your keyboard will appear at the bottom of the screen.
3. If you see a at the top left of the keyboard, tap on it. Otherwise, skip this step
4. On the top of the keyboard, tap to go to Settings
5. If you don't see : Tap
6. Tap Languages Assamese.
7. Turn on Handwriting as shown in the screenshot below
8. Exit Settings

Step 3: Select the handwriting keyboard for writing

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open any app that you can type in, like Gmail or WhatsApp
2. Tap where you can enter text. Your keyboard will appear at the bottom of the screen.
3. Touch and hold Globe
4. Select the Assamese handwriting keyboard -- অসমীয়া (ভাৰত) হস্তলিপি as shown in the example screenshot below

Step 4: Use the handwriting keyboard

1. Once you have selected অসমীয়া (ভাৰত) হস্তলিপি in the step above, your keyboard will become a blank writing area where you can enter words as shown in the example screenshot below
2. With a finger or stylus, handwrite words in the Assamese script in that area
3. The words you handwrite will appear as if they were typed in the text area of your app