A quick guide to interactive YouTube videos
Thursday, June 11, 2009
YouTube videos have come a long way since Evolution of Dance. Instead of just staring at the computer screen, a new crop of videos are encouraging users to interact with them by clicking on links embedded within the video. Interactive YouTube videos are being used to create games and quizzes and their use is only limited to the imagination of their creators.
First some examples of the videos, then on how to how they are created. Viewing each video on the YouTube site itself is highly recommended.
Interactive YouTube videos function a lot like Choose Your Own Adventure books wherein the action comes to a crossroads and the viewer is left to make a choice to determine how the story continues.
The combined effect is a seemingly infinite number of choices, but for interactive YouTube videos it is in fact very finite: a separate video has to be created for each choice (Barack, Paper, Scissors has at least 140 different videos and thus at least 140 different outcomes).
The interactivity is created by overlaying annotations on top of the video. Annotations were previously used solely as captions or speech balloons leading viewer to another site for more information related to the video. Now they are transforming YouTube from a static video player to a tool for engaging the audience. Check out YouTube's help section for more information on how to create annotations.
The uses of interactive videos by mainstream news organizations remain to be seen, but the technology is absolutely worth exploring. The most obvious use would be to create news games, but lets hear from you: how would you use interactive YouTube video? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Also on 10,000 Words:
• Online news games are fun (and informative!)
• Newspapers on YouTube: Dos and Don'ts
• 8 Interactive online projects that educate and captivate
• Exploring the human body with Flash and video
• Where to find the best in Flash journalism
First some examples of the videos, then on how to how they are created. Viewing each video on the YouTube site itself is highly recommended.
Barack, Paper, Scissors
Bboy Joker
2009 Oscars Interactive Picture Photo Hunt!
Super Mario Slots
Interactive Card Trick
YouTube Interactive Spelling Bee
Interactive YouTube videos function a lot like Choose Your Own Adventure books wherein the action comes to a crossroads and the viewer is left to make a choice to determine how the story continues.
The combined effect is a seemingly infinite number of choices, but for interactive YouTube videos it is in fact very finite: a separate video has to be created for each choice (Barack, Paper, Scissors has at least 140 different videos and thus at least 140 different outcomes).
The interactivity is created by overlaying annotations on top of the video. Annotations were previously used solely as captions or speech balloons leading viewer to another site for more information related to the video. Now they are transforming YouTube from a static video player to a tool for engaging the audience. Check out YouTube's help section for more information on how to create annotations.
The uses of interactive videos by mainstream news organizations remain to be seen, but the technology is absolutely worth exploring. The most obvious use would be to create news games, but lets hear from you: how would you use interactive YouTube video? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Also on 10,000 Words:
• Online news games are fun (and informative!)
• Newspapers on YouTube: Dos and Don'ts
• 8 Interactive online projects that educate and captivate
• Exploring the human body with Flash and video
• Where to find the best in Flash journalism
Labels: video
3 Comments
Frugal Captain Says:
Here is an example of a video using annotations to drive a golf cart around the roads of an island in Lake Erie. It's called, "Grand Theft Golf Cart Put-in-Bay"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPOZ8Kzkmm4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPOZ8Kzkmm4
Nicolas Says:
Una pagina web hecha en YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Elo7WeIydh8
Saludos desde Venezuela!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Elo7WeIydh8
Saludos desde Venezuela!!!
I can't believe I haven't seen this yet.
I think this would benefit people in news organizations in the same way that image mapping works. Where once something or someone is in frame you throw an annotation out over them or it and it links to another youtube video that relates to that person or thing.
At least that's what I'm going to suggest to be my boss :)
June 15, 2009 8:55 AM