The PhoneBook - The future of interactive storytelling?
16th November 09
Posted in mobile, storytelling
This is so brilliantly simple, and hints at a very interesting emerging platform both for conventional storytelling (in this case, reading with kids) but also for new opportunities where print meets interactivity anywhere.
This is a mock-up, clearly, but @Schatz & I been trying to work out what technology would allow the iPhone (say) to know when the page was turned; this would ensure a more immersive & richer experience.
Two thoughts come to mind:
One, use headphones controls to hack some kind of next page function from the next track control.
Two, shake and turn (bit random with kids in charge)
Any other ideas?
More details here: http://www.mobileart.jp/phonebook.html
Thanks to Alex Rainert - @arainert - for the original link on his excellent blog: http://www.everydayux.com/
17 comments on “The PhoneBook - The future of interactive storytelling?”
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Ben Malbon
I really like that…
Hey Ben,
While I think this is a really cool integration between books and the iPhone, it seems like it’s more about “multimedia” storytelling than “interactive” storytelling. The question I always have when looking at things like this is: Does it actually impact the story someone’s telling? Or is it just using newer embellishments to highlight a point?
I always thought digital storytelling would become more like Huxley’s “Eyeless in Gaza” or even Dennis Potter’s “The Singing Detective.” And that we would have more control over it.
Hi Rich
I know what you mean. I think this is just barely scratching the surface, and I imagine precisely what you’re describing to be closely behind.
I hope so.
It’s only as close behind as we make it. It’s about just doing it rather than waiting for it.
Reading is about imagination. So I wouldn’t want anything to take away from that lateral skill. There are places where other technology could come in though.
How about:
-If the iphone recognized the page that a was open when mom sat by the bed…and this cued video of a dad who was away on business to do a live ‘read’ of the passage to their child?
-Or holding the iphone next to the book, certain passages could possibly cue itunes to play music or a sound effect that the author intended to accompany a chapter, creating a more dynamic experience.
- What about a partnership with DK books, where you can travel inside of objects as if you were a tiny camera? For example, holding it up to a body allows you to explore the capillary system and external organs? After the ‘trip’, you can return to the book.
- Similarly, what if you embedded guidebooks like lonely planet. Holding the phone to specific entries would then open up virtual tours of each entry, or even a menu or listing.
These are just quick, off the top of my head. There are already creative people with a lot of these ideas. But the question is…how do we make actually make these cool things happen, rather than just posting about them?
It’s the facilitators that are missing from the equation.
This is just ridiculously cool. Imagine what the next generation will think of when you say ”book’, or ‘read’, or ’story’. It can open up - literally - totally new worlds. RIDICULOUSLY exciting.
Extremely cool and inspiring.
i like to read.
[...] From BBH Labs. [...]
What do we need he paper cover for, really? My son would do fine with just the iphone…
Very good point. With Tom (four and a half) and Molly (six) in our household, I can vouch for their complete savviness with the iPhone. It’s frightening.
@ Rich Playstation’s EyePet game gets close (without the storytelling aspect) but tis might be closer to the augmented reality storytelling you envisage?
http://www.chipchip.ch/diplome/diplome.html
Cool idea. But as a dad I like playing the role of “interactive storyteller.”
Does this strike you as a lap tv.
I like that notion. B
[...] Via BBH Labs This entry was posted in Social Web, Trends and tagged BBH Labs, iPhone, Mobile Art Lab, PhoneBook. Bookmark the permalink. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL. « Andy Gilmor Illustration (via @ventilate) [...]
[...] The PhoneBook – The future of interactive storytelling? [...]
[...] What happens when you cross an iPhone with a book? When you cross the iPhone with a book, you get the “phone book”. This is a nice little idea that I picked up via BBH Labs. [...]