At the PRINT 17 show in Chicago September 10-14, Dr. Harvey Levenson and John Parsons will introduce a new approach to book publishing. They will unveil a prototype of the next edition of Levenson’s highly regarded textbook, “Introduction to Graphic Graphic Communication.” The prototype book will use Ricoh’s Clickable Paper Technology to trigger related digital content and interaction with the reader.
“We’re not publishing an e-book,” said Parsons. “This is about a new way to demonstrate the inherent strengths of print.” The book is designed to demonstrate how printed pages can guide and enhance the use of digital media.
As readers view the book’s printed pages, they can use the free Clicker app on their tablet or smartphone to access explanatory video, PDF worksheets, or other media. Readers will also be able to interact with fellow readers through live chat or social media discussions.
Levenson says it will be “a book that ‘talks’ to the reader and performs demonstrations. It will represent a unique learning experience for students studying graphic communications and for industry folks wanting to learn more about their field.” He expects the book to be a model for the entire publishing industry.”
Clickable Paper
“This is a pioneering undertaking,” adds Levenson. “It will be the first book ever produced using Clickable Paper technology.”
Unlike QR (quick-response) codes that connect viewers to a single website, Clickable Paper provides one-touch access to multiple links—product information, reviews, downloadable extras and more. Rich media links can connect to photos, video, social networks, e-commerce portals and more.
Each page can be considered a gateway to online experiences such as live chat, audio content, photo galleries, online quizzes, and email to private discussion lists or tech support.
For now, Parsons is calling the project a “multi-book.” But he is open to ideas for a better name for this hybrid of print and digital publishing. He says the book will prove that “the permanence of print and vitality of digital media can co-exist.”
The prototype book will be demonstrated in the Ricoh booth (#2022) at PRINT 17. The final book will be published in 2018 by Intu Ideas in partnership with Ricoh.
The book will be published in small batches in full color using a Ricoh inkjet press. The online content that can be accessed through the pages will continue to be updated and augmented.
To support the further development of the digital experience of the final book, Levenson and Parsons have launched a Kickstarter campaign. The campaign ends August 18.
About the Authors
Dr. Harvey R. Levenson is Professor Emeritus and former Department Head of Graphic Communications at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. His first version of “Introduction to Graphic Communication,” was published in 2007. It gave students an overview of graphic arts, printing, design, publishing, and related fields, such as the development of the Internet, World Wide Web, and telecommunications. Other readers of the book included designers, ad agencies, software developers, and equipment manufacturers who needed of better understand of methods of mass-producing text and images.
John Parsons is Principal of Intu Ideas, a company that offers nonfiction book publishing advice and business writing services (research reports, white papers, case studies, articles) to software companies, publishers, nonprofit associations, and others. Parsons previously served as editorial director of The Seybold Report, an independent source of information about technologies used for printing and publishing.
For more information about the updated version of “Introduction to Graphic Communication,” read John Parsons’ post “Print Books Versus eBooks: “We’re Asking the Wrong Questions.”