Portable object identification and translation system

A portable translation system, comprising:

• an input device for capturing an image including text and a background;
• and
• a hand-held computer responsive to said input device and programmed to:
• distinguish text in said sign from said background;
• recognize characters forming the text;
• translate said text;
• and
• output a translation of said text.

A portable system, comprising:

• an input device for capturing an image including text and a background;
• and
• a hand-held computer responsive to said input device and programmed to:
• distinguish text in said sign from said background;
• recognize characters forming the text;
• convert said characters into a different set of characters;
• and
• output said different set of characters.

A video camera for producing an image having at least one object and a background, the improvement comprising:

• a computer having a processor and memory, said computer programmed to:
• extract said at least one object from said background;
• compare said at least one object to a database of objects;
• and
• output information about said at least one object in response to said step of comparing.

A cell phone having a camera for producing an image having at least one object and a background, the improvement comprising:

• a computer having a processor and memory, said computer programmed to:
• extract said at least one object from said background;
• compare said at least one object to a database of objects;
• and
• output information about said at least one object in response to said step of comparing.

A combination, comprising:

• eyewear;
• an input device carried by said eyewear for capturing an image having an object and a background;
• and
• a hand-held computer responsive to said input device and programmed to:
• extract said at least one object from said background;
• compare said at least one object to a database of objects;
• and
• output information about said at least one object in response to said step of comparing.

A method for using a hand-held computer to provide information related to a user-selected object, comprising:

• populating a database within a hand-held computer with a plurality of objects and information related thereto;
• capturing an image having a user-selected object and a background;
• distinguishing said user-selected object from said background;
• comparing said user-selected object to said plurality of objects;
• selecting an object matching said user-selected object from said plurality of objects;
• and
• retrieving and outputting information in response to said selecting step.

A method for translating a sign having a plurality of characters in a first language to a second language, comprising:

• capturing an image containing a background and a sign;
• extracting a plurality of characters from said sign;
• recognizing said plurality of characters;
• and
• translating said plurality of characters from a first language to a second language.