United Daily News, a media group in Taiwan, has partnered with Aurasma, an augmented reality development firm, to bring their news publications to life. Augmented reality has been targeted by the print industry as a way to breathe new life into print media. The technology allows consumers to interact with print in a way they were never able to do before the advent of smart phones. The United Daily News is using the technology for exactly that purpose, hoping to enthrall a new generation of consumers that have become inseparable from their mobile devices.
Aurasma has produced a new mobile application for the United Daily News called Vmagic. With the app, readers can trigger a number of augmented reality displays that are embedded throughout their newspapers. This content can be anything from videos to advertising. The app will also allow readers to share their experiences with augmented reality on social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter.
Martha King, managing directors for Aurasma, believes that augmented reality technology will help traditional media compete with digital media. With more people getting their hands on smart phones and other mobile devices, the need to engage consumers on a level they are becoming increasingly familiar with is paramount. The United Daily News is one of the first news groups to begin using augmented reality in an attempt to attract the favor of tech-savvy consumers.
