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Weekly newspaper creates digital 3D Santa

A weekly newspaper made Father Christmas real for its readers this week by creating a digital 3D Santa who comes to life from the pages of the paper.

The Newbury weekly News is thought to be the first paper in the country to launch an augmented reality 3D application through a print publication.

Readers download the free app Newsbury i3D, then aim their smartphone or tablet at a picture of Father Christmas printed on a page in this week’s paper.

He then comes to life in 3D on that device, enabling readers to take his picture alongside other people in the room.

Newbury Weekly News staff demonstrate the 3D Santa in a newsroom photocall.

Newbury Weekly News staff demonstrate the 3D Santa in a newsroom photocall.

As well as appearing to be live in your living room, office or pub, the 3D Santa also moves, dances, waves and says “Ho ho ho. Merry Christmas from the Newbury Weekly News”.

The family-owned paper worked alongside fellow independent groups Kent Messenger and Tindle Newspapers to create the app which is available on the App Store and Google Play.

The initiative has been promoted by a translucent wrap around this week’s paper and a competition inviting people to send in pictures of themselves with the 3D Santa which will feature in a gallery on the paper’s website newburytoday.co.uk.

The paper plans to publish more 3D creations in 2015 with dinosaurs and First World War tanks to follow in the New Year.

Managing director James Gurney said: “Our 3D Father Christmas will delight our readers – young and old – and I can’t imagine there is a child in West Berkshire who won’t want to play with Santa in their Newbury Weekly News.

“We are excited to be the first local newspaper in the country to use this latest digital technology to reach a new audience and hopefully help to grow print circulation. It will be exciting to see the results and I hope our readers enjoy the interactive experience.”

7 comments

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  • December 12, 2014 at 11:06 am
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    Absolutely pointless and, judging by the two pictures used to demo it, not exactly great.

    It reminds me of the paper clip that used to pop up in MS Word.

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  • December 12, 2014 at 12:57 pm
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    Full marks to the paper for trying something which might actrually sell some extra papers. It is a fun idea and not aimed at encouraging readers to move to a website instead of buying their local paper. Good luck to them!

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  • December 12, 2014 at 1:42 pm
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    Judging by Santa’s eyes, Operation Yewtree should take a look!

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  • December 12, 2014 at 3:58 pm
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    Blimey, talk about Bah Humbug!

    It’s Christmas guys, I say good luck to the team for trying something different.

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  • December 12, 2014 at 6:37 pm
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    I think it is a great idea. Having actually seen it and used it. Honestly quite fun especially for the kids. With some ideas of further things to come why not try to engage younger readers with cutting edge technology.

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