u/NetClean

Typing a word into a dictionary app breaks my flow every time, by the time I've switched apps, typed it, and found my place again, I've lost the sentence I was reading.

I've been using a camera-based lookup instead (point your phone at the word, get the definition instantly, no typing) and it's helped a lot, especially outside of textbooks.

Curious what others do, push through and guess from context, keep a running list for later, or has some tool actually solved this for you?

I always found it frustrating to stop reading just to type an unfamiliar word into a dictionary. It breaks your focus, especially when studying for exams or reading textbooks.

So I built HyperSense, an app that lets you point your phone’s camera at any word to instantly get its meaning.

Every word you scan is automatically saved, so over time you build your own personal vocabulary list without any extra effort.

It also translates definitions into 100+ languages, which
makes it useful for international students and anyone learning English.

I’m curious:
Would something like this actually fit into your study routine?

What feature would make it genuinely useful for you as a student?

I’d love your honest feedback.

One of the biggest things that slowed down my English learning was looking up unfamiliar words.

Every time I found a new word, I’d stop reading, switch to a dictionary app, type the word, read the definition, then try to find my place again. It completely broke my concentration.

I wondered if there was a faster way.

So I built a mobile app that lets you simply point your phone’s camera at a word to see its definition instantly. It also supports translations in more than 100 languages, automatically saves every word you look up, and organizes them by the book or article you’re reading.

I built it because I thought it could help English learners spend more time reading and less time searching.

I’m curious: How do you currently deal with unfamiliar words while reading? Do you use a dictionary, Google Translate, AI, or something else?

Most dictionary apps still require you to type a word.
Some tools let you take a photo first.

HyperSense takes a different approach.

Just point at a word while reading and get the meaning instantly. It’s beating Google lens.

No typing.
No photos.
No screenshots.

No interruption to our reading flow.

Built for readers, students, and language learners who encounter dozens of unfamiliar words every week.

Curious: how do you currently look up words while reading?

Among all adults in America:

64% read a print book
31% read an e-book
26% listened to an audiobook

Pew Research Center's latest survey published in 2026 found that 75% of U.S. adults read at least one book in the past year. Among adults, 64% read a print book, 31% read an e-book, and 26% listened to an audiobook.

I found the print number surprisingly high. With e-readers becoming more common and audiobooks growing rapidly, I expected the gap to be much smaller by now.

Personally, I still prefer print books. There's something about holding a physical book, turning the pages, and seeing your progress that helps me feel more connected to the story and the reading experience.

Which format do you use most often, and has that changed over the years?

English is my primary language, and I’ve been thinking about learning a second language.

There are obvious choices like Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, and others, but I’m curious what people would recommend based on their own experience.

If you’re bilingual or have learned another language as an adult, which language would you recommend and why?

Would you choose based on practical benefits such as travel, career opportunities, and number of speakers, or based on personal interest and culture?

Looking forward to hearing different perspectives.

When I come across a word I don’t know, I’m often torn between stopping to look it up and simply continuing to read.

On one hand, looking up the word helps build vocabulary and improves understanding. On the other hand, stopping too often can break the flow of reading.

I’m curious how others approach this. Do you look up unfamiliar words immediately, make a note of them for later, or just rely on context and keep reading?

My English and communication skills are generally good, but I often feel that I could express my thoughts more effectively.

Sometimes I know what I want to say, but I can't find the right words, explain an idea as clearly as I'd like, or navigate difficult conversations as diplomatically as I could. I am like always short of words.

For those who have worked on these skills, are there any books that genuinely helped you communicate better or become more diplomatic in conversations?

Among all adults in America:
📖 64% read a print book
📱 31% read an e-book
🎧 26% listened to an audiobook

Pew Research Center’s latest survey published in 2026 found that 75% of U.S. adults read at least one book in the past year. Among adults, 64% read a print book, 31% read an e-book, and 26% listened to an audiobook.

I found the print number surprisingly high. With e-readers becoming more common and audiobooks growing rapidly, I expected the gap to be much smaller by now.

Personally, I still prefer print books. There’s something about holding a physical book, turning the pages, and seeing your progress that helps me feel more connected to the story and the reading experience.

Which format do you use most often, and has that changed over the years?