Blue Star leaps off the page with the launch of its brand new augmented reality (AR) division, Blue Star Interactive. Headed up by technology specialist, David Francis, Blue Star Interactive is an Australian first to exclusively tackle the worldwide boom in AR, leading industry trends in the next generation fusion of print and digital communications.
Blue Star Interactive hits the market for its official launch in Melbourne, February 18, and in Sydney on February 20, with a huge technology showcase. Kicking off with a world class services division, Interactive will also offer a bespoke technology platform to position Blue Star at the industry forefront. With the latest generation of interactive mobile platforms, smart glasses and other wearable technology set to explode worldwide, the latest wave of AR tools will radically reposition print in a whole new market tipped to hit $1.06 billion by 2018.
- Interactive's AR star - David Francis
Speaking with Print21 Francis said, "Everything comes back to print. As a communication channel print has always worked, and it still works. Now with AR we can actually leverage print into mobile, and tap into the very beginnings of the next internet. The first media channel has come full circle, and now it's time for a massive print renaissance.
"When I saw the amazing things that Blue Star were doing here, the opportunity to get involved was just too big for me to pass up. Very few people are working in the space properly, but what Blue Star has created is undoubtedly the best AR product in the world."
With a number of high-profile AR campaigns and a wealth of industry awards under his belt, Francis will steer Blue Star Interactive into the new markets. He has operated in this pioneering space for the past three years, working with field experts to identify key contextual marketing trends from AR to virtual reality, geo-fencing, blue tooth beacon micro location and adaptive big data.
Kim Lykissas, Blue Star Group, group general manager sales and marketing, said, "Augmented reality, in conjunction with wearable technologies and the internet of things, will be the largest leap in consumer technology since the roll out of the worldwide web. Our new division will pioneer the most comprehensive AR capabilities in the market, and collaborate with clients on innovation that will move the bar for how brands approach marketing in Australia."
The official launch showcase will feature insights for former Google Earth director, Dave Lorenzini, an AR expert currently working to create the "next net" with cutting edge AR and visualisation companies. He will be speaking about the future of the digital landscape and where AR fits into the communications market.