The Big Issue In The North adopts new sales model to help homeless street vendors
The Big Issue In The North is a magazine in the United Kingdom with a business model that stands out. The magazine is sold in a traditional fashion, but not by vendors that own and operate newsstands. The Big Issue In the North is sold throughout the United Kingdom by homeless street vendors who rely on the jobs provided by the magazine for a steady income. The magazine recently announced that it will be launching a digital edition, which could threaten the sales of many of its homeless vendors.
INSP turns to QR codes to keep vendors in the loop
More magazines are opting to go digital as a way to keep up with the changing interests of consumers. Many of these magazines have been struggling to cope with the advent of mobile technology, with some faring far better than others. The Big Issue In The North believes that the time is right to make the transition from physical media to digital, but is unwilling to shirk its responsibility to the country’s homeless community. As such, the International Network of Street Papers (INSP), the non-profit group that owns and operates the magazine, is taking steps to ensure that homeless street vendors have a chance to continue working.
QR codes used to sell magazines in the UK
The non-profit group has turned to QR codes in order to solve this problem. The digital edition of The Big Issue In The North will begin being sold on October 29 and can be purchased through the scanning of a QR code. In this way, INSP believes that street vendors will still be able to make a modest living through sales of The Big Issue In The North.
INSP slates pilot project for magazine in US
QR codes are well known as effective marketing tools and have been used to engage a wide range of consumers around the world. INSP, which owns and operates publications in several countries, is planning a pilot project of another one of its magazines — StreetWise — in Chicago using the same sales method as it is using in the UK.
3D Printshow hints at a new future for augmented reality
The 3D Printshow ended over the past weekend, drawing some 4,000 attendees to witness innovative uses in technology. The event brought technology enthusiasts from all over the world to London, where they were exposed to some of the most innovative used of 3D printing the world has ever seen. 3D printing is the process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital model. During the event, this process was exhibited well through the use of augmented reality.
Inition uses augmented reality to create innovative designs
Inition, a 3D creative technology company, was in attendance at the 3D Printshow, where it showed off some of its latest designs in the realm of 3D printing. The company’s exhibitions, which included a chocolate replica of co-founder Andy Milins’ brain, were created with the help of augmented reality. The technology allowed the company to make detailed digital models using data that was taken from other sources. In the case of the chocolate replica brain that was on display, this information came from an MRI scan, which was then converted into a format that was used to make an augmented reality digital model.
3D printing could benefit from augmented reality
Another exhibition from Inition were small models of trees that were created using 3D printing. This exhibition was part of an overarching project that encompassed the 3D Printshow. The project is called “People Wood” and was commissioned by the Hackney Council of Britain. The project is comprised of more than 400 3D printed trees, all created from digital models fashioned with the help of augmented reality technology.
Technology may have future in architecture
The 3D Printshow showed off how augmented reality could be used to make highly detailed digital models for 3D printing. The event also brought attention to how this technology might be used on a grander scale, such as in architecture. Augmented reality could be used to create detailed plans concerning an architectural project that could be highly valuable for those involved. As such, the technology continues to show that it may be more useful outside of the realm of marketing and entertainment.
