What is Interactive Video?
Interactive Video is a term we use at Right Click Productions to describe the new and innovative ways we use digital video both online and offline. In it's simplest form, the menu system on one of the better shop bought DVD videos could be described as Interactive Video. i.e. a video loop could be playing behind the menu buttons, then when a menu selection is made a different video clip will play while the viewer is being "taken" to the next menu where yet another clip is visible.
The DVD menu is an extremely simple example of Interactive Video. A far more complex example is the use of many different clips of digital video of a house, all linked together with a sophisticated navigation system that allows the user to move around the house exploring it thoroughly. This is used by our Virtual Tours both online and on CD / DVD in order to market property for Sale and to Let. This can be advanced further by adding Commercials (or featurettes) to the Virtual Tour. These additional videos can be grouped around certain "rooms" or areas in order to deliver further information based upon the viewers interests (their interests being determined by their touring). This can be used to great effect by our Virtual Tours for Venues, Hotels / B&B's, Businesses and Tourism.
Current ProjectOur most complex use of Interactive Video to date is the creation of interactive driving lessons for learner drivers. This ongoing project makes use of several different cameras capturing key views and highly interactive software that we are developing to create not a virtual environment (like a computer generated driving simulator) but a "real" environment, in which the pupil can take control of various aspects of driving a car while seeing real world views. The different views that they are presented with take the pupil from the view of a car that they are used to (i.e. outside) through to the driving seat. The level of control that the pupil has over the "car" can gradually be increased, just as a real driving instructor would gradually hand over control of the car in the real world. As the pupil progresses through the exercises, they are able to see the consequences of various actions that they take. This is achieved by having shot many hundreds of clips of video to cover all of the more common possibilities (and thoses examples that are most beneficial as examples to learn from) and then using the complex software that we have developed in order to present these video clips seamlessly and in an informative yet interactive way. i.e. the video cannot be presented in a predetermined manner since the pupil has control over the outcome. An example of this "Virtual Driving Instructor" is the parallel parking exercise. The pupil is able to see out of the front windscreen and rear windows, perform a number of mirror checks, simultaneously seeing an exterior view, an animated aerial view and text description while listening to instruction from a recorded voice-over by a real driving instructor. The pupil can then control the direction of the car at several key points while the remainder of the controls are handled for them. At any point, the consequences of the pupils steering choices will be shown by all views. This enables the pupil, in a controlled and simplified environment, to experiment and learn the new skills needed to compliment their existing skills and therefore master the difficult task of parellel parking consistently. Early trials of this Interactive Virtual Driving Lesson have been incredibly successful. A number of the trial pupils have in fact been able to parallel park a car having never had a "real" parallel parking lesson before. (NOTE:- they were all pupils who were about to receive parallel parking lessons and as such were sufficiently advanced to be attempting that manouevre. We are not suggesting that they miraculously learned to drive having never sat in the driving seat before). All of the pupils involved in the trials have been very pleased with the results and have been begging us to complete the whole series of lessons. [more] |
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So What?
So, why would you be interested in Interactive Video? Well, think about this. If we can produce Interactive Video Training exercises that can teach a learner driver how to consistently parallel park a car, without them having received any parking instruction from any other source, imagine how well we could educate your customers about your product. We adopt the same techniques and create a highly interactive environment appropriate to whatever it is you do or sell.
Intrigued?
This technology is so new that most people are unlikely to be able to imagine what it is, let alone how it can benefit them and their business. So contact us and tell us what it is you do, and we will show you how Interactive Video can impress.
