*I'm at ARE2012 today – and an AR company launches in Austin. What are the odds, ladies and gentlemen?
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Contact: Mark Nathan, [email protected]
VoterView Launches First Augmented Reality Mobile App for Campaigns and Elections
VoterView app innovates 30-second, 3D AR ad with play / pause functionality
Austin, Texas – Austin-based start-up VoterView has announced the App Store release and inaugural campaign for the first augmented reality (AR) mobile app for campaigns and elections. (((Political town, Austin.)))
The free VoterView app allows voters to view AR content on campaign mailers, print advertisements, outdoor signage, and digital collateral. The app’s interface encourages sharing with social networks and promotes deeper engagement with candidates and causes, allowing voters to learn more, express support, or even make a contribution from the app. (((This being Texas, I'm guessing that version 2.0 offers "voter spin bamboozlement functionality.")))
VoterView also offers an innovation in AR advertising – a 30-second, 3D augmented reality ‘commercial’ with play and pause functionality. Users can pause and resume the VoterView ad using an on-screen button, allowing for detailed exploration of the 3D animation.
VoterView’s inaugural campaign, for the re-election effort of Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, features a 30-second 3D AR advertisement tied to Leffingwell’s closing campaign mailer and a full-page print ad in a local Austin newspaper. Election Day in Austin is Saturday, May 12th.
VoterView co-founder Mark Nathan, a longtime Democratic campaign strategist, said augmented reality is an obvious “next step” for campaign communications.
“Just like everyone, voters want information via their mobile devices,” said Nathan. “At the same time, traditional campaign advertising platforms like direct mail and signage aren’t going away. As augmented reality continues its rapid expansion into the mainstream, candidates and causes will increasingly turn to AR to help them deliver their messages. VoterView intends to become a trusted mobile AR partner for both campaigns and voters.”
Nathan said VoterView will release an Android app within the month. More information, including a video of VoterView’s inaugural campaign, and downloads of current campaign literature featuring VoterView content, can be found at www.VoterView.net.
