Top notch publication and university leverage the next-generation cross- media application to enable access to rich media content with one click
 
Ricoh Production Print Solutions LLC  (Ricoh), a leading provider of digital output solutions, today announced the launch of the Clickable Paper Pilot Program at Graph Expo 2012. This innovative program is Ricoh's next step in the Clickable Paper evolution and a key component of the company's "Print and Beyond" initiative. Designed to empower users to leverage a wide array of rich media, the award-winning Clickable Paper service makes it possible for Ricoh's pilot customers'users to access content such as social networks, websites, e- commerce sites and video clips by simply pointing and clicking a smartphone at any Clickable Paper-enabled printed surface.

Since it was unveiled at drupa 2012, Clickable Paper has been sought by many of the world's leading commercial printers, publishers, and universities to extend the appeal of the printed word by integrating offline and online content. The new pilot program is designed to engage early adopters in the further development of the solution.  The first pilot program participants include:

• News & Tech – the premier resource for insight, analysis, and technology integration in newspaper, digital and hybrid production.  Reaching 20,000 readers per month, the outlet targets newspaper publishers and department managers involved in applying and integrating technology.
• University of Mississippi– one of the country's most prestigious and recognizable universities, the University of Mississippi currently has more than 20,000 students and publishes more than five million pages annually.

 "Printed materials are not connected to all of the valuable rich media that's available online today that can help educate end users, or drive them to take action. Clickable Paper has solved this problem by enabling end-users to point and click their mobile device at any printed surface and receive a multitude of rich media content immediately," said Eric Staples, senior Product Manager at Ricoh. "By linking online sources to printed materials,

Clickable Paper can literally bring a page to life. Our first pilot program participants recognize this and share our excitement in bringing this service to market swiftly and successfully."

"Our heart and soul lies in helping and educating our audiences to leverage print and online technologies to deliver the most relevant content, so of course when we heard of this service, we said 'we have to have this!'" said Mary Louise Van Meter, publisher of News & Tech. "The potential that Clickable Paper can bring to the publishing industry is immense, and we're thrilled to help bring it to market. Our readers are constantly seeking new innovation, so this fits perfectly into our publication's environment."

"We are very excited to be part of Ricoh's Clickable Paper Pilot Program as it gives us the ability to create, optimize and connect with our audiences," said Tony Seaman, director of university communications, University of Mississippi and president of  IPMA (In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association). "This breakthrough technology will reshape the way we integrate online and print media and will provide users with a next generation alternative to QR codes and other similar technologies."
 
Clickable Paper has been awarded a  "Must See 'Ems" award for the 2012 Graph Expo Prepress and Premedia category. At Booth #2600, attendees can experience Clickable Paper first hand via smartphones and other devices throughout the Ricoh Storefront displays.