Features Premedia Web-to-print
Ricoh Clickable Paper-enabled textbook illustrates print+digital trends

Ricoh USA Inc. today announced the release of Introduction to Graphic Communication, Second Edition, a textbook that also includes interactive content, such as videos and online discussion.

Empowered by Ricoh’s Clickable Paper augmented reality solution, the textbook addresses the future of graphic communications and is described as the industry’s first of its kind book that incorporates a broader interactive digital experience. This book, written by Dr. Harvey Levenson and John Parsons, is now available for purchase.

Clickable Paper aims to enhance traditional print pieces with augmented reality to connect end-users with digital content. By pointing a smartphone or tablet at a printed piece, readers can be immersed in a digital experience. Ricoh explains Clickable Paper requires no specialized, design-disrupting markings, like QR codes. Additionally, it can be updated as frequently as every hour, making the adjustment of marketing campaigns on the fly quick and easy – or, in the case of this textbook, helping to minimize future versioning and associated costs.

This textbook includes web resources and instructional videos. Videos range from miniature lectures from respected industry analysts to demos and marketing videos from vendors discussing how they are addressing emerging trends. Recent enhancements add gaming features, push notifications and cookies-enablement, allowing users to engage in challenges, contests, quizzes, surveys and more, along with new customization and workflow capabilities. Analytics provide near-real-time, anonymized reports on how users are engaging with content.

“Print may be changing faster now than it has at any time in history and equipping our future generations with tomorrow’s interactive print possibilities today will be crucial to our industry’s future successes,” said John Fulena, Vice President, Commercial & Industrial Printing Group, Ricoh USA. “It’s truly the best of both worlds. There’s no better topic to centre this Clickable Paper-powered textbook around than learning about our industry. We’ve all seen the statistics on the power of print and the psychology of engaging with communications you can touch. This textbook doesn’t just tell students about the future of print – it shows it to them via all channels. We’re honoured to advocate for the future of our industry with our technologies that enhance it today.”