Using augmented reality effectively has been buggy, cumbersome and sometimes inefficient – it just seems that very few are capable of implementing it in a useful way. Tokyo Newspaper, also known as Tokyo Shimbun, and Dentsu Tokyo created an app that is simple enough to use with augmented reality that it’s targeted at kids.
In an attempt to engage kids and have them interact with newspapers the smartphone app ‘translates’ articles into child-friendly versions to keep their interest. Utilizing pop-up headlines, cartoon characters and script more effective for children, kids not only digest the commentary but also enjoy it.
Print may have taken a hit with the tech-boom and smartphones, but applications that target kids to engage with traditional print is what the industry needs to regain relevance. For newspapers to adopt and implement the technology could be a cost they may not want to incur, however tapping into kids with technology is a step that might be worth the expense. This isn’t the first app we’ve seen that helps kids interact with parents with activities usually set just for adults: The Toytoyota app invites kids to dive the family car with their parents with real-time steering.