Systems and methods to specify interactive page locations by pointing a light beam using a handheld device

Systems and methods are described in which a light beam generated by a handheld device is used to point toward a selected object or location within a printed page containing visual content. The object(s) and/or location being pointed at may be determined using a device camera pointed in the same direction as the beam coupled with computer vision methods to determine locations of camera-acquired images within a database of page-content templates. The database may include interactive sequences and/or scenarios associated with page objects and locations, which may augment the visual content of a printed book to include audible elements, additional visual components, and/or haptic stimulation enacted by the handheld device. The device may also generate a beam image reflection on a viewable surface that is in focus at a predetermined distance to encourage a user to position the handheld device at the predetermined distance from the viewable surface.