Meet the community: Immersive Publishing

1. What is your organisation called?

Immersive Publishing.

2. What services or products do you offer?

We work with clients and their content to combine augmented reality (AR) with books and other print material, creating added layers of AR function in audio, video, additional text, illustrations and three-dimension. It can be applied to already printed books or anything printed anew. 

Our system works with any smartphone or tablet (Apple or Android), can be specially branded to a client’s design, and launches the audio, video and other features by identifying a photograph or symbol on the printed material through the device’s camera. This is much cleaner on the page and a smoother experience for the reader than relying on QR codes. This video shows what we do. 

There are wonderful possibilities to pair AR with publishing. Examples include a brief video interview with authors or contributors on a phone or tablet screen, or a scrolling picture gallery of additional illustrations that could not be accommodated in the printed book. Authors often own or have access to relevant video, illustrative or audio resources which can be added to the pages of their books. Audio or video content from a book’s accompanying website can also be more easily accessed when it opens directly from a book’s pages onto the reader’s screen, making a more immediate impact.    

As publishers explore new ways to expand markets, AR can really enhance the reader experience and reach new audiences. Our system is affordable and rapid, and we take care of all the work and details. We are also happy to collaborate with the author and publisher to help obtain and manage content.

We have produced a print brochure which illustrates some of the ways AR works with printed material, with examples of our system, including video, audio, and three-dimensional triggers, launching from the printed page onto a phone or tablet screen. Contact us to receive a copy.

3. How do you support the IPG community?

We provide new ways to enhance the value and future of the printed book. We welcome the opportunity to discuss ideas and projects and offer innovative solutions. We can also problem-solve in areas like the inclusion of additional material that can’t be accommodated by a printed book, like extra text or illustrations. 

4. What do you enjoy about working in publishing?

Through our careers in publishing, we [co-founders Victoria Cooper and James Fairclough] have been inspired by the range of creative processes: working with writers, collaborating with colleagues in-house, developing projects and participating in the myriad steps to bring a book to life.    

Victoria was at Cambridge University Press for more than 25 years, ending up as senior commissioning editor for music and theatre books. In 2014 James co-created the iBook The Mozart Project, which won three awards and was the bestselling interactive book on the iPad. In 2016 James and Victoria then collaborated with the BBC, AMC Films and The Ink Factory to create an interactive iBook guide to accompany the TV adaptation of John le Carré’s The Night Manager.

5. What do you think is the single biggest opportunity and the single biggest threat for independent publishers right now? 

Independent publishers can be nimble, moving quickly to make decisions and adjust things such as list development and topics, market targeting and technological innovations, in ways that larger multi-national publishers might not be able to achieve. They can explore relatively small opportunities like new lists or revenue streams in a local market, which could later prove to be very successful.

But there are also risks. Independent publisher can be more vulnerable to some market currents. If lists are limited and market demand shifts, they will need to adjust. However, their agile nature brings an ability to adapt and discover new prospects.

6. What do you want to get out of belonging to the IPG?  

We look forward to being part of the community of independent publishers, discussing their requirements and ideas and helping them and their authors create exciting and rewarding books. From our years in publishing, the book industry feels like family, and we are delighted to make our contribution.   

Visit the Immersive Publishing website and contact Victoria Cooper  [email protected]