Interactive Magazines - A New Media Exploration

I came across an interactive magazine about a year ago and thought it was an interesting alternative to printed materials. The only devices that were able to navigate through this kind of media were computers and the newer wave of cell phone devices. Now, with the introduction of the iPad, digital publishing has reached a new level of interactivity.

That magazine I came across was a digital version of a popular skateboarding magazine and it's interactive features included thumbnail navigation of the different spreads, zoom in/out capabilities, and the ability to 'grab and flip' pages with the click of a mouse. Companies like ZINIO.com seems to have digital publishing down. With over 50,000 digital books and magazines in 15 languages for portable devices like phones, laptops and the new iPads, they seem to be the largest 'online newstand.' They are on a mission to 'reinvent reading' while 'saving trees,' a clever strategy in my opinion. Some prices I saw were the same as you would pay for the printed versions, about $10 for 12 issues of a particular magazine, which seems reasonable enough.

What really blew me away were the features that are included in some of the newer interactive magazines that are being made available for Apple's new iPad. Magazines like VIVmag are making there issues interactive with video and full motion advertising which puts the age of interactive media at a whole new level. Readers are now viewers of published materials. To reach this level of visual sophistication, the people at VIVmag use an advanced digital camera called "Red," which can produce digital video with resolutions as high as those used for motion picture films. With this technology the producers can pause the video to create different interactive spreads that include text like an ordinary printed spread. The image link at the right includes a sneak peek at what VIVmag has to offer (Provided by "The New York Times" website, under the Technology section).

One downfall that I did come across was that each issue is made available at $6 per issue! VIVmag says the time spent on one digital issue is about the same as an ordinary printed issue.

As technology advances, devices like the iPad will become more and more accessible as their prices become more affordable for the average person. Sooner or later everyone is going to be walking around with a device like this reading their newspapers, magazines and books. Students will be able to carry all their textbooks and notes in a single device all while having the ability to access the web, make phone calls, watch videos and listen to music!

In my opinion, a time where everyone uses an iPad-like device is soon to happen as the newer generations become increasingly dependent on mobile hand-held devices. But for now there are some of us that still resist these new types of innovating technologies.

Resources
- VCAB.com allows anyone to convert their pdf files into working interactive media. (Although I think you need to pay.)

- If you're familiar with Indesign CS4, export your finished publications as fully functional "page flipping" Flash interactive media with no programing experience necessary! (Here is an example I created after finishing an exercise in my publishing class 'The Tea Catalog")