Greetings it’s me Craig,Turbo and my new assistant Smittens.
So, today I’m writing about AR.
No, it’s not pirate speak, not the state west of Memphis, and no my good teacher friends, not Accelerated Reader. I’m talking about Augmented Reality. Sound like Future Geek Speak? Until now it has been just that.
Originally AR technology was created for the military to provide marking ability of landmarks.
If you have watched football in the last few years you’ve seen AR technology at work showing viewers the first-down line.
According to Wikipedia: Augmented reality (AR) is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data.
Blah, blah, geek, nerd, geek, tech speak...
Other than a phrase that’s trending up, what does Augmented Reality have to do with your writing?
What if we used a page of your book as a real world object?
What if you could share with your readers the playlist that inspired you while you wrote your novel?
What if you could attach backstory for your characters the first time they appear in your book?
For those of you with books already in print or possibly out of print, wouldn’t it be great to add new content without the requirement of reprinting your books? You could link existing readers to your new works as well as add spark to your existing books to attract new readers.
Think of it as an enhanced ebook without the ebook.
Here’s how a reader would use AR:
- Download a free AR App to their smartphone or tablet.
- As they read your book, they scan a page with their smartphone or tablet.
- From their device they are able to link to your website, listen to music, see the pictures on the page come to life in a video or animation.
AR Demo for The Goths Graphic Novel for Ipad, iphone users
My fellow Turbo Monkeys, I urge you to check into this technology and it’s ability not only to enhance your books but also to enhance your entire sales strategy.
Super cool! So my seven-thousand pages of backstory might have a use someday??
ReplyDeletePS-I love LOVE the snippet of The Goths and can't wait for it to come out!
Thanks Amy, I hope The Goths is out in two weeks but i said that two weeks ago. AR will hopefully become a common method for juicing up a book but right now I think I am one of the first.
DeleteCheers
How intriguing! AR interests me . . . I liked seeing the Goths come alive. I was unaware that AR existed, but the potential for creating another dimension to a novel is amazing! Thanks for posting :)
ReplyDeleteThank you EJ. AR allows you to give your readers much more information on the world you create. I am looking forward to offering it to my readers and seeing how they respond.
DeleteSo cool! The creative possibilities for using AR are tremendously exciting. It will be interesting to see what the future holds...
ReplyDeleteI agree Kristen. An exciting time in publishing, filmmaking and epublishing...only scary if you're a traditionalist i think.
DeleteThat is really cool--I like the way it can make some of the backstage magic come to life, like the playlists, the character sketches, and, as Amy said, the 7,000 pages of backstory.
ReplyDeleteOh yes Beth,
DeleteThere's so much created in making our story worlds and yet so much goes unseen. I hope to bring a more immersive experience to my work.
Thanks for reading.
Cheers
I'm on the list for an AR app for my upcoming novel. You're such a cool writer, Craig Lew! ;-)
ReplyDeletePS: do keep us posted on more techie-book-related stuff. This is fascinating.
And oh, "Hi!" to Smittens!
Nathalie,
DeleteThanks so much. I am so happy you are considered for AR on your novel that's excellent. I want to hear more. And you can bet on me to keep blabbing bout techie book and media stuff...it's just what I do.
Smittens says "Hi Nath-lee" Smittens pronounces the "TH"...she's just a baby still.
Cheers
I can only say, "Oh." and maybe "Ooh." Possibilities.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Linda,
DeleteIsn't it exciting to be here right now?
Thanks for your continued support.
Cheers to you.
Cool! nice post .. can't wait to see more.
ReplyDeleteMore is on the way Hazie!
DeleteMuch Much more i guarantee it.
Thanks for all your shares and support.
Can I be number 6 btw? Amy can be number 7.
I have now watched the video 18 times and still can't get over it. Thanks so much for putting this coolness on my radar! I remember a while ago feeling like it'd be neat-o to put a download code for a soundtrack in a novel--and this puts that to shame! :) Just knowing you ups my coolness factor, though, so there's that consolation. Thanks, Craig!
ReplyDeleteHa Julie Bear,
DeleteYou slay me. I think this will be a great tool for writers! And since we write for kids, we will hit them right where they live with free snazzy technology. Yay us!
Tubo Monkeys are Go!
Craig, I was blown away watching this! It's like stepping off the edge of what we know. Thank you for going out and exploring new territory and coming back to show us what you found.
ReplyDeleteHe's like our Scout Monkey. :)
DeleteHa! Scout Monkey indeed!
DeleteIt is my pleasure Marilyn and sort of what I'm all about. When I first met you all at the Nevada SCBWI Mentorship I was astounded at the growing similarities of Kid Lit Publishing and the Film World. Seemed to me that everything was moving closer together and now I think that is more true than ever...so a lot of what i'm finding in the movie world is leaking over to the book world and it seems the great kid lit books are making their way to the film world.
Next month i will talk more of this trans media movement... until then Smittens, Turbo and I will just geek out together.
Cheers
Thanks for this, Craig! God, I love this blog! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Nao!
DeleteThank you for reading it. I hope you keep coming back...i think there's a ton of good stuff coming soon.
Cheers you!