Analysis of the application of augmented reality technologies in Spanish mass media productive processes

• Published in: Revista Latina de Comunicación Social no. 72; pp. 1670 - 1688
• Main Authors: Valcarce, David Parra, Bolós, Concha Edo, Recio, Juan Carlos Marcos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tenerife Laboratorio de Technologías de la Informaciò y Nuevos Análisis, LATINA, de la Universidad de La Laguna 01.01.2017
• Edition: English ed.
• Subjects: Analysis; Aperture; Applications programs; Augmented reality; Communication; Electronic devices; Human-computer interaction; Industrial development; Information industry; Innovations; Internet of Things; Journalism; Mass media; Multimedia; News media; Researchers; Smartphones; Software; Studies; Tablet computers; Virtual reality; Wearable computers; Web 2.0; Spain
• DOI: 10.4185/RLCS-2017-1240-90en

Introduction: Augmented reality technology is a combination of the real world and the virtual world through a set of processes based on software and multimedia documentation storage possibilities provided by the new information and communication technologies. Methodology: This article focuses on the analysis of the use that Spanish media are making of this innovation. Firstly, we have examined the pioneering experiences of the newspaper El País (through its publication El Viajero) and the magazine Fotogramas, mainly based on the QR technology of two-dimensional codes; next, we have proceeded to study the phenomenon from the development apps on mobile devices such as tablets and / or smartphones (in Apple, Android and Windows environments), highlighting their actual reach to date from today; and, finally, we have analysed the short and medium-term experiments based on this innovation that are being carried out in the main Labs belonging to Spanish journalistic companies. Results and conclusions: The results of the research show that augmented reality is still taking its first steps in information market, both on an international scale and even more pronounced in Spain. The vast majority of these experiences do not encompass the complex technological infrastructure necessary to launch such projects, so, its real development in information industry will be possible with a new generation of physical devices that, in combination with more powerful hardware platforms and specifically designed software, will achieve the integration of real and virtual elements. However, in the medium and a long term it is outlining a scenario in which it is necessary to quantify what is the true deontological impact that the implementation of the augmented reality has in the flow of informative contents generated by information companies, as well as which will have the levels of protection of the data supplied by users of this technology to companies that provide contents and services.