Readers are interacting with this newspaper in an amazing new way - are you one of them?
Just weeks after launching Layar - an app that brings the printed page to life - the Optimist has changed the way people can read their newspaper. If you haven't tried it yet, it's easy to do. All it takes is Layar, a free app that has erased the line between print and digital media through the use of augmented reality. ("Augmented reality" is a phrase used by the nerds who developed this program. It means you can get digital stuff from the printed page.)
So what happens when you augment reality?
Well, let's say you are reading a story in the Optimist about a local blues band and you see the Layar logo at the top of the story or above a photo. By using Layar, that story will come to life. You see, not only can you read about the band, you can watch them perform or hear them play a song. Layar can also give you directions to their next gig and even help you buy tickets to their show.
Layar is truly a game-changer. It has added so much more dimension to our stories. After only a few weeks of using Layar, a newspaper that doesn't use Layar already seems out of date and out of touch with today's tech-savvy readers.
So, exactly how does it work? Layar uses your iPhone, iPad or Android smartphone or tablet to recognize images in the Optimist that have been enabled for augmented reality. Layar translates the images into buttons and notifications on your device's screen, allowing you to almost instantly view related videos, share articles on social networks, click on websites mentioned in stories and much more.
And it's relatively easy to use. All you have to do is start the app, point your phone's camera at the page, tap the "scan" button and Layar's interactive buttons will appear on your screen. Tap any of them to be taken to video, image carousels, Facebook pages, Twitter and more.
Many of the Optimist's advertisers are also using Layar to reach out to their customers and improve their business's bottom line. Layar allows advertisers to entertain and inform readers in a way that's never been done before with the printed page.
A Layared advertisement allows readers to share deals via email, Facebook and Twitter, buy products and services, book appointments conveniently without them needing to put down the paper and go to their computer, or take out their laptop, log on and open a program.
If you haven't tried Layar yet, I encourage you to get involved. Scan a Layared item and give it a try. We're having a lot of fun with Layar and I hope you will too.
To join the more than 28 million people worldwide who have downloaded Layar, visit layar.com or your app store.
