House Beautiful Opens the Door to Innovation with Digimarc Discover™

Do you want to know how easy it is to use digital watermarking in your publication? Check out this Case Study with House Beautiful.

Are you thinking: “Wait, a Case Study sounds like homework. Why would I want to read that?” Well, let me explain what you’ll learn:

• Embedding digital watermarks into images takes just seconds.  (Seriously, try it out yourself at www.digimarc.com/portal)
• Why digital watermarks are preferred over other mobile response codes.
• How to successfully implement and introduce digital watermarks into your publication.
• Why Payoffs for editorial and advertisements must provide real value.

Interested in learning more? Contact me at matthew.szerencse@digimarc.com

 

You read me right. The digital watermarking action starts with the cover, and continues via 18 more photos inside (all watermarked via our Online Services Portal). The Swimsuit Issue is one of the most popular magazines in the world, and Sports Illustrated recognized the advantages of Digimarc Discover digital watermarking over competing technologies. The supermodels spring to life, showing a short video of the same model posing in the same environment. Our friends over at Nellymoser built the app, and did a great job hosting the video. Sports Illustrated and app sponsor DirecTV excelled at educating their readers and indicating enhanced content throughout the issue, creating their own Mobile Response Code (also digitally watermarked)... could you imagine Kate Upton sharing her beach towel with a 2D barcode? Ha! I chuckle at the silly thought.

Yes, I made the effort to "tastefully" crop the cover and screenshots. However, you can get yourself a copy and download the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Viewer app to see the big picture.

Obviously, everyone here at the Digimarc ranch is very excited by this high-profile use of our technology; just the beginning of even more great things to come.

It’s 2012 and those funky little checkered squares (QR codes) keep appearing everywhere. First, what are QR Codes? QR stands for "quick response" and it's a two dimensional barcode. Reading a QR code with your mobile device will take you to interactive content. For example, after scanning a QR Code you could watch a video, receive coupons or find out more information on products/services.

Digimarc’s digital watermarking technology has similar functionality as QR codes, but Digimarc’s digital watermarks are imperceptible. Yes, digital watermarks are essentially invisible and can link you to compelling mobile campaigns just like QR Codes, but with digital watermarks you don't need to use the intrusive QR Code slapped upon every printed piece of material.

Digital watermarks also offer more security. Recently we’ve seen stories where people are hijacking QR codes and directing users to different experiences. (Check out the photo below of a hacked QR code.) Do you want your child reading a hijacked QR Code from their favorite book and then seeing inappropriate videos? I didn’t think so. Let’s review. QR Codes are intrusive on the printed page and potentially unsecure, while digital watermarks are imperceptible and a much safer alternative. If you had to choose, what mobile response code would you prefer?   

Australia’s Public Accountant is the first financial magazine to use digital watermarking. There are five digital watermarks in the October/November issue of Public Accountant. There’s also an entire page educating readers on the technology, informing readers where to find the watermarked content throughout the issue, and how to use the Digimarc Discover app.

Interested in learning about Consumer Law in the Land Down Under? On page 33, you’ll find an
explanatory video on The Australia Consumer Law that went into effect on January 1, 2011. Check it out – you might learn something.

In the Oct/Nov issue, you can also order accounting handbooks and guidelines right from the printed page. If you’re an IPA member, you get 15% membership discount that can be applied immediately. And if you’re not an IPA member, find out how on page 79.

(Sorry, Velvet Underground and Andy Warhol fans. The banana on the cover is not a peel off sticker.)

 
Yes, our friends at House Beautiful are working their digital magic once again. The October issue of House Beautiful includes 7 interactive features ranging from a photo slideshow of October’s Master Class designer, Jeffrey Bilhuber, to Chef Tyler Florence taking readers on a video tour of House Beautiful’s 2011 Kitchen of the Year in Rockefeller Center. You’ll even find inspiration from Artists Craig Schumacher and Joseph La Piana as their designs come alive right from the magazine!House Beautiful is making it easy for readers to identify the enhanced content by including a special Table of Contents specifically highlighting the digitally watermarked special features.
Grab your copy today!