UT Dallas Magazine Embraces New Technologies in Its Latest Issue

UT Dallas Magazine incorporated augmented reality in the latest issue, part of the publication's ongoing efforts to provide an immersive experience that goes beyond the printed page. 

The minimalist white cover of the print edition bursts into an explosion of color via Blippar, an augmented reality app available for free download via Google Play and iTunes. When activated, Blippar overlays digital content — in this case, videos supporting the cover story “Blurred Lines: Between Art and Science,” written by Amanda Siegfried.

Managing Editor Teri Brooks said that use of Blippar complements the feature article’s examination of creative processes.

“The app increases the range of our storytelling. For this article, interactive elements give the reader a fuller understanding of the topic,” she said. “They can get a sense of how tiny a nanoparticle is, or hear about the connection between music and math or view an animation depicting centuries of migration and mobility.”

A Blippar-branded icon indicates where videos are overlaid in the story. The digital contents include the works of Dr. Moon Kim, the Louis Beecherl Jr. Distinguished Professor in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science; and vocal and choral performance lecturer Dr. Kathryn Evans and Dr. Maximillian Schich, an associate professor, both in the School of Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication.

Last summer, the magazine launched a new digital edition with responsive design to enhance viewing across a variety of devices including tablets and mobile phones.

UT Dallas Magazine is published twice a year for alumni and friends through the Office of Communications.