Interactive Layouts?

[karlimarie]

I know it’s not exactly a new trend, but it’s not something I see very often so I’m wondering if anyone has fresh ideas for creating interactive layouts?

For example, one of the summer scrap-a-thon challenges was to create the mixtape of your life and I took it literally. Along with the layout I also made a YouTube playlist of songs that were important throughout my life. I included a QR code for the playlist in the page so whoever is looking at the page can listen along (there’s also a second QR code that might give you a giggle )

I have no idea if QR codes or even YouTube will be around in 20 years, but at least for now it felt like a way to bring the LO to life.

One of my other memory keeping practices is to make little 2-3 minute videos of family activities, sometimes little stuff like going bowling, but also the bigger stuff like going to see Santa. I want to try and find ways to incorporate those into the pages but I haven’t really gotten around to it yet.

Anyway, this last layout has me thinking- what are some other ways to add to my pages that bring them to life or add another dimension?

Have you guys ever added interactive aspects to your layouts?

 

[EvelynD2]

I haven’t done this before but what a wonderful idea! Your layout is absolutely amazing!

 

[jagruti patel]

I think this is a great idea and I would definately do if I knew years from know they would still work. That is why I don't - but I love the idea of it!!

 

[Leablahblah]

Wow your layout is fantastic! So realistic looking! And the touch of QR codes is fun! I've never done it because I would dread the time it would take me to upload a video or put together a playlist and whatnot but this is fun!

 

[Brendazzle]

I love the playlist QR code on your page. I didn't catch it before but it's such a great touch.

I don't do QR codes often but I have a few pages with them. I mostly scan tickets, brochures, etc. for pages and then tuck the actual items in the back of the album when I print it. (Shutterfly has a pocket add-on but I never remember to add it to my books when I order.)

 

[Cheryl Ashcraft]

Your page is AMAZING. I haven't ever used a QR code. Mostly because I rarely take video, and the videos I do take I don't post online. I love how you used it to link up the playlist though, and know I'm thinking of other things I could use it for . . . like my husband getting global employee of the quarter. I could link to the company's article online.

 

[angiekey]

Oh my WORD, your layout is gorgeous! I love the addition of the QR code for the playlist!

I have used QR codes on a few layouts of mine, to link to videos that are posted on YouTube. One is the video of my husband's championship speech when he won the 2003 World Championship of Public Speaking ... another is a video of my niece singing that I posted to my personal YouTube channel.

I understand everyone's concerns about whether those QR codes will work in 20 years, or if the content will even be online ... so there's a balancing act you have to play between including cool features like that in your albums now, versus how much time it takes you to set them up (in case they wind up going away).

I have a year-long subscription to a service called Remento, which is designed to help you tell your life stories and turn them into a printed book with the help of some pretty impressive AI tools. The basic idea is that you take a prompt and record your story - either a voice recording or video - and when you save it, the tool converts it to text for you ... and then you can either have the full transcript of what you said (with all the um's and ah's removed) in your book or their AI tool will sort of summarize what you said and turn it into a story. Then when you get the book printed, not only is the text there - whichever version you choose - but there's also a QR code to the recording.

So your great-grandkids can hear - or see - you tell the story.

It's an incredibly cool idea, and I picked up the year's subscription to play with it and see if it could help me as a scrapbooking tool. So far, I'm getting a great deal of utility from it as a writing assistant, especially when the stories I want to tell feel too big and I don't know where to begin. Having it give me its summary oftentimes gives me a place to start, and I can combine it with text from the verbatim transcript, and edit it all together into something I really like.

But that's another idea: record yourself, voice or video, telling the story - even if the text is already on the page - and link it with a QR code. How much would you love to be able to hear your own grandparent's voice now, if they've passed away?

 

[angiekey]

Another idea - but not one I've played with myself just yet - is to incorporate Augmented Reality (AR) stickers on your pages. You can use an AR platform or app to create both the AR content and the sticker itself.

Some of the tools my search engine suggested include Artivive, Snap Lens Studio, Life AR, and EyeJack.

 

[bestcee]

I've done QR Codes. I link them to private Youtube videos. Sure, someday they may not work, but they have for over 10 years that I've been using them, and it's cool right now. My kid adores the page of him at Disneyland at 3 with the little video.
I've also done a gif layout, with a QR code. The gif works online, the QR code for my printed album. (Kit is Forever Joy, I don't see it currently in the shoppe)

If it doesn't show up here, you can see it at: https://i.imgur.com/RVwf5Ee.gif

 

[wendyp]

I add QR codes for years now on layouts where there were made videos too.
Same as you I loaded all on YouTube with a QR code in the layout.

My kids love to look them up in their books or in our year books. Don't know if it still there in 20 years. But for now I know they love to watch and re-watch

 

[Brendazzle]

I've done QR Codes. I link them to private Youtube videos. Sure, someday they may not work, but they have for over 10 years that I've been using them, and it's cool right now. My kid adores the page of him at Disneyland at 3 with the little video.
I've also done a gif layout, with a QR code. The gif works online, the QR code for my printed album. (Kit is Forever Joy, I don't see it currently in the shoppe)

If it doesn't show up here, you can see it at: https://i.imgur.com/RVwf5Ee.gif

This is so cool!

 

[AmieN1]

I use QR codes often- usually just links to videos or an album of ALL the videos/photos of an event. I know it's likely not a forever thing- but I have scanned old ones when looking back through albums & it's so fun to bring back those memories!

I've also made a .gif layout like courtney in the past & that was really fun too. I think the AR sticker idea that Angie mentioned is so cool. I think there's definitely going to be some fun stuff we can do in the near future- we're all so creative!

Your layout is stunning- and I bet it was SO fun to create too- walking down that memory lane!