Augmented reality iPad app enhances Philadelphia Inquirer

The Philadelphia Inquirer is working with Augmented Reality specialists Aurasma to provide an enhanced version of their newspaper says a report in ITworld. The project would allow people to launch a custom iPad app built by Aurasma that would show animations, video and audio when it's pointed it at a printed copy of the newspaper.

AR technology can be useful when used in the right context, but, as ITworld writer Keith Shaw points out, it's somewhat unnecessary to require people to have a printed newspaper and an iPad app. Instead, The Inquirier could roll all that interactive material into a dedicated iOS app or even a multimedia-rich webpage that doesn't need a printed copy of the paper.