PhotoMath uses your smartphone's camera to solve math problems

Math was never my strongest subject in school. While I could manage geometry and trig, other parts of mathematics like algebra and calculus just never clicked with me. Perhaps if I had MicroBlink’s latest app, I might have fared a bit better (ok, probably not).
The company’s latest app is called PhotoMath. It uses your camera’s smartphone to scan math problems from a textbook and not only solve them, but show you the steps necessary to do it on your own. Think of it as Word Lens for math problems.
The idea is that you can get the solution to a problem without having to flip to the back of your textbook for the answers.
An app like this is ripe for abuse – zipping through homework and cheating on a test immediately come to mind – although MicroBlink likely isn’t too concerned about it. I say that because MicroBlink readily admits it isn’t an education company and that PhotoMath is simply being used to promote their text recognition engine.
As TechCrunch points out, MicroBlink is in the business of selling its core technologies to other companies that may have a use for it. This latest product has been in development for three years and is finally mature enough to put on the market. PhotoMath is just one potential use.
PhotoMath is available free of charge for iOS and Windows Phone devices. A version for Android is expected to hit the Google Play Store early next year.