Konica Minolta implemented technology of augmented reality in the British The Big Issue

2019

On January 10, 2019 the Konica Minolta company reported that The Big Issue with assistance of Konica Minolta issued special issue of the edition in which the technology of augmented reality is used, – so both companies want to draw attention of society to a problem of the homeless in Great Britain.

According to the company, a principal theme of release – Tech For Good ("Technologies for the good"), were included into it interactive life stories of different people which can be browsed using the genARate application developed by Konica Minolta. The special release tells how technologies develop society and help the organizations and entrepreneurs to solve social problems. Number also included the video from the former drummer of Razorlight and the composer of the animated film Snowman and the Snowdog Andy Burrows and the author of the book Notes On a Nervous Planet Matt Haig.

The purpose of cooperation of The Big Issue and Konica Minolta – to provide to readers materials of the following format, to give the chance to sellers to improve the life due to growth of revenue and eventually to help to remove from itself negative social labels. Konica Minolta will support process of digital transformation of the edition and to advise creators on strategic questions. Partnership will help the magazine to integrate a usual "paper" business model with the innovation digital content for audience accumulation and drawing attention in media space.

For January, 2019 we continue to implement innovations to develop in the conditions of digital society, and are very glad to cooperation with Konica Minolta. The special release of Tech For Good ("Technologies for the good") not only shows possibilities of paper editions, but also gives to readers to learn more more about life of our sellers – their history in video and audio-formats will be directly developed before eyes. Ben Sullivan, editor of the digital version of the The Big Issue magazine

Publications of special release are followed by AR tags. From a cover it is possible to pass to Ann Uork's history (Ann Warke, 53 years) who addressed The Big Issue when she lost work and the house. To get access to special materials, readers it is necessary to scan using the smartphone the images mentioned by the AR icon (Augmented Reality, augmented reality).

Use of technologies of augmented reality will not become an isolated case for The Big Issue – the edition is going time to publish digital materials in two months.

For January, 2019 the number of the homeless in the United Kingdom is high more than ever, and this partnership – a striking example of how business, a social entrepreneurship, innovations and technologies improve living conditions of vulnerable groups of the population. We give to readers an opportunity to see real stories. We share technology which helps to support such social enterprise as The Big Issue with pleasure. Ashley McConnell, initiator of partnership and head of the international development of Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe