Next generation paper markets
A Covid-extension project to understand the market for next generation paper technology with business partners.
We have developed an authoring and playback system for augmented books, using both augmented reality and 'internet of things' technologies. This was tested on professional and self-made content in the travel domain, through the creation of augmented travel guides and photobooks. Business engagement with the travel and tourism industry was affected by the global pandemic towards the end of the project in 2020.
This project aims to redress this by working closely with three companies to test our approach in their market: Bradt Travel Guides, Futurum Magazine and Thingtale. To do this, we will create a cross-platform version of the NGP Player app for Apple IOS as well as Android, author two new augmented books (for Futurum and Thingtale) and collect feedback from Bradt Travel Guides and Futurum customers (unfortunately the start-up Thingtale ceased trading during the project).
We will also progress and publish technical work on a ‘magic bookmark’ for page recognition, complete a project film and present the next generation paper (NGP) approach at the British Science Festival in Chelmsford on 10 September 2021.
Funding
The project is funded by grant number UKRI CoA RN045X at a cost of £203,583. This is a UKRI Covid-19 Extension fund linked to next generation paper. The project runs for eight months from 1 January to 31 August 2021.
The team
University of Surrey members
Professor David Frohlich
Principal Investigator
Professor Caroline Scarles
Co-Investigator
Professor Miroslaw Bober
Co-Investigator
Dr Radu Sporea
Co-Investigator
Dr Haiyue Yuan
Research Assistant
Gina Katsiani
Research Assistant
Elisa Mameli
Research Assistant
George Bairaktaris
PhD Student
External members
George Revill
Co-Investigator (The Open University)
Outputs
Software
Cross-platform NGP Player for:
- Android
- Apple IOS.
Publications
Bairaktaris G., Frohlich D.M. & Sporea R.A (2021) Printed Light Tags and the Magic Bookmark: Using light to augment paper objects. In press for CHI 2021 Conference Proceedings, New York: ACM Press.
Bairaktaris, G., Frohlich, D. M., & Sporea, R. A. (2021, June). Flexible optical bookmark for open-page recognition in augmented paper. In 2021 IEEE International Conference on Flexible and Printable Sensors and Systems (FLEPS) (pp. 1-4). IEEE.
Augmented book demos
The slow travel guide to Cornwall and the Scilly Isles.
An augmented leaflet on 'volcanology and geology' by Futurum Magazine.
Denslow’s 1903 Humpty Dumpty.
Memoryscape brochure of soundscapes from dementia care project.
Memoryscape postcards with story narratives and soundscapes.
Magic bookmark for CHI 2021 conference.