The 2015 World Press Photo Speaking Images is the first book, where every printed picture is also a fully printed loudspeaker. As soon as you turn the page, a sound is triggered and, when you turn to the next page, is stopped.

The sound is transmitted from a sheet of paper, due to polymers - special materials that transform the electric sound signal into vibrations and sound pressure. The special polymer is sandwiched between two polymeric electrodes. When receiving current, the material creates an oscillation that moves across the paper surface and is transmitted as sound. The printed loudspeaker is incorporated into the printed image. In the spine of the book, we placed a chip with sound files, circuits for sensor detection and an amplifier to improve the sound quality. During the binding process, the electronic components are connected to the loudspeakers, triggering a sound each time you turn the page.

This print innovation was developed by the Chemnitz University of Technology and was presented for the first time at the World Press Photo Awards ceremony. As this is the roll-out project, the material is being manufactured at a high cost, but the professionals involved in the project predict their production will be simpler and cheaper in the future.

With more than 300 Articles within the first five days and a reach of 16 million people in unpaid media - the World Press Photo Speaking Images attracted high attention – including well-known publications such as Focus, Bild, mdr, RTL Aktuell, Wired, Page and Wissenschaft24 – since it did not only show the best images of the year, but also the stories behind them in a never-before-seen-and-heard way. Plus, the idea contributed to the development of a new technology, which is the next step in the history of print technique.