Will Interactive Paper Revolutionise the Print Industry?

While the success of the iPad, Kindle and similar tablets combined with the relentless march of the internet have been predicted by many to spell the end of printed books and magazines and, in particular, newspapers I certainly think it's far too early to write off the old media just yet. We are on the cusp of an exciting new era for print as new technologies promise to combine the interactivity of the internet with the ease of use and appeal of paper - while the internet continues to cannabilise the newspaper industry and new models are sought to keep the industry alive and in profit, interactive print offers many exciting opportunities for publishers, content creators and advertisers.

The Independent's Alex Masters takes a fascinating look at Interactive Newsprint - a collaborative effort between Dundee, Surrey and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), that aims to integrate the rich media of the web into traditional news print.

Alex notes that:

...the technology can be applied to more than just newspapers. With posters, leaflets and advertising signage all potential surfaces that could take advantage of interactive paper. The team at Interactive Newsprint have already produced several prototypes that can play audio content and interact with online polls and social media services simply by touching interactive areas on a page.

We really are witnessing the start of "next big thing" - possibly interactive paper products are going to be a major part of our everyday lives in the near future with interactive magaznes, interactive flyers and interactive adverts, to name just a few applications, responding to our touch.

If you'd like to learn more about Interactive Newsprint then do check their website out.