Managing Editor Inc. (MEI) today announced that its creative team has built an interactive iPad program book for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) 2012 conference. MEI used the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite to build the free ISTE digiPubs viewer app and the first folio, which serves as a guide for attendees.

MEI created the program book from beginning to end, based on concepts and assets provided by ISTE, and also managed the iTunes Connect app-submission process. Slated for June 24-27 in San Diego, ISTE’s annual conference is one of the world’s premier education and technology events, showcasing how educators across the globe are using innovative technologies to expand students’ horizons.

ISTE has been experimenting with new technologies to enhance the conference’s program book for several years.

“Technology is a critical piece of teaching and learning, and we have a very tech-savvy audience,” said Donella Evoniuk, senior director of conference services at ISTE. “Essentially, what we’re doing is creating a learning environment that models learning environments. The lens is always on us to come up with something exciting and innovative.”

Evoniuk said she focused on the iPad after seeing magazines on the device and discovering that the new medium didn’t diminish the reading experience; instead, the interactivity made her feel like the possibilities were endless. The Adobe DPS platform and MEI’s expert tablet services fit perfectly with ISTE’s plan to hire an outside contractor to build the app while providing training and consulting.

“Given our existing workflows, we wouldn’t be able to launch and learn a whole new system on our own,” Evoniuk said. “MEI described the value proposition in a way that made sense.”

The design process began with an editorial concept session, in which MEI’s design team presented the “art of the possible,” showcasing key Adobe DPS features. This approach gave Evoniuk a chance to learn more about the software’s capabilities and come up with some creative ideas for interactivity on her own. She sketched out her concepts and provided MEI with content including images, video, text and style guides. Then, MEI’s experts got to work turning those concepts into reality on the iPad using Adobe DPS.

The app includes an interactive schedule, speaker spotlights, video features, program highlights, tips for attendees and more. It also provides embedded live content from the conference website, ensuring that users have the most up-to-date details about event activities, as well as links to ISTE’s mobile website for online content formatted especially for the iPad. There’s even information about ISTE’s next conference, including a link to registration.

Once ISTE was happy with the product, MEI shepherded the finished app to the iTunes App Store through iTunes Connect.

“It was such a simple process,” Evoniuk said. “MEI’s project managers and solution specialists were always available, and everybody has been so pleasant to work with. It’s like we’re all speaking the same language. It has just clicked very well.”

Evoniuk is looking forward to using Adobe DPS and MEI for more ISTE publishing initiatives in the future.

“For our organization to survive and stay relevant, we have to explore getting our content onto emerging technologies like the iPad,” she said. “MEI is our gateway to that, and this project is just the beginning. We have this finished folio now, and we’re excited to see what else we can do with the viewer app.”

For MEI, the project was an opportunity to demonstrate the flexibility of the Adobe DPS platform.

“This interactive program book proves that Adobe DPS isn’t just for magazines,” said Craig Roth, senior vice president of sales at MEI. “It’s the perfect tool for any publishing team that wants to expand to tablet devices and enhance its content with robust interactive features.”

To download the free ISTE digiPubs viewer app and the ISTE 2012 Final Program Guide, visit http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iste-digipubs/id534673362?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2.