Analysis of Interactive video

Interactive video is formally known as a technique used to blend interaction and linear film or video.There are many different platforms that interactive video exist on, including; Mobile Phones, internet, newspaper, radio, cameras, ipods, stereos and bill boards. Interactive Video is used for many purposes including, entertainment, informing, educating and advertising, these are important element of interactive video. Entertainment is very popular with all age groups and can be accessed easily, Education is key to a lot of young learners, and you can find tutorials of almost anything on the internet to follow. Advertising is not very popular as some people think advertisement is to publicised but is key to a lot of successfully business and successful shows/films. The informative approach is one of the most important elements of interactive video because it gives you knowledge on what’s going on right now, on anything and everything such as BBC News.

In this essay im going to be looking at different types of interactive video such as: A viral video which becomes popular through the process of internet sharing, typically through social networking, email ect. A film trailer which is an advertisement for a film that will be shown in the future at a cinema. Trailers are now shown before the film begins. Virtual tours which is a simulation of a location, usually composed of a sequence of video images. Not forgetting the user generated videos, that’s shot by anyone. This type of video is common on most common on Youtube, where anyone can upload videos of whatever they want.

Viral Marketing is known as advertising and/or marketing technique that spreads like a virus by getting passed on from consumer to another and market to market. Viral marketing techniques have the potential to start very small and grow to enormous proportions, they become very popular through the internet, email, video sharing website’s and social networking sites. Viral videos can be created amateurishly or professionally. A example of a Viral video is the

‘NHS Quit Smoking Advert’ Which has had many hits on a famous video website called ‘Youtube’. The reason this video became so popular is because the use of persuasive techniques towards families to stop smoking, and the damage it can cause. This advert has been done professionally, its very clear and very affective.


Another persuasive Viral video is ‘FRANK Cocaine TV Ad’ which is very effective to many young and old people across the world to stop using drugs. This video has appeared online but also on TV.



User Generated videos are videos that have been created amateurishly through video sharing websites such as ‘Youtube’. These video are often created with the lower end of the film equipment. User Generated videos can consist of; Parodies, vlog’s and covers of songs. I took a close look at two User Generated videos, One has been made to entertain and the other has been made to entertain and to publicize.‘PhatGayKid’ is one of many who uses User Generated videos to become known, he is successful because of his humour ad outgoing style. The negatives of his videos are that sometimes when he sings the sound can become a little distorted, this reflected on the overall video.


The second video I studied was a cover of Beyonce’s song ‘If I were a boy’ it contains two young females, the purpose of this video is to entertain and to publicize themselves through Youtube. This video is well made by high quality cameras but they should improve the sound of the video as they are performing singing sessions. The target audience for both of these videos could be anyone, they are not aimed at a certain category.


I think both videos fulfilled there purpose as they both made me smile.

Virtual Tours are a simulation of a existing location, usually composed of a sequence of video images. Viewers can use Virtual Tours to become familiar with unknown territory they may be visiting or even just to check out how a certain place looks. For example you can discover many virtual tours on Shops, galleries and museums. I have taken a look at two Virtual Tours. My first Virtual Tour is of Ben Sherman’s store in London, this allows the customers to see what they should expect to see inside the store. The picture quality of the tour is brilliant, although controlling the tour got abit tricky at times and I found myself getting a little confused, the pictures is very sharp, and almost life like, the camera techniques used in this are very smooth and you can not see any jump shots at all. The link to this tour is: http://www.eyerevolution.co.uk/tours/ben-sherman/. Another Example of a virtual tour is Google Maps. Anyone that is searching or a certain destination on Google maps can now view it in a virtual tour. This is a very quick and easy way to plan trips, look up places and see and certain street. The target audience for this is anyone who is looking for a certain place. The quality of the tour is very life like, but it should be updated more often as it can leave viewers very confused. I cant also see any editing on this tour, as I think it would be illegal to change what someone’s house looks like or give people false ideas of what the area looked like on this occasion. This is the link to Google maps: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl I think both Virtual tours fulfilled there purpose as I know have a clear understand what to expect when im looking for a certain place. Both of these tours do not have any sound so couldn’t comment.

Film Trailers are short clips of upcoming movies, mainly used just to advertise. They usually appear on; TV, internet and the cinema. I took a close look at two movie trailers. One trailer is from a movie called Toy Story. Toy Story 3 is a 2010 American 3D computer- animated film. The films produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by well known Walt Disney Pictures. The trailer contains a little bit of the plot to the film, and what you can expect. It has been made to the highest standard quality.


The second movie trailer I studied was Shrek Forever After, this film is produced by Dream Works Animation and is distributed by Paramount Pictures. Like the Toy Story trailer this contains a little bit of the plot and what you can expect during the film. And again this trailer has been made with picture perfect quality and excellent sounding.


Both films are targeted for young children but that don’t stop the teens going to see the films. I think both Trailers fulfilled there purpose as I want to go to the cinema to watch both films, as the trailers leave you at a cliff hanger.

Interactive Video is global, I personally think that there’s a lot more to come from it. Interactive video is used on a day to day basis, but I could see in the late future it becoming apart of our everyday TV. I personally think user generated videos will never die out, and will increasingly get more and more popular! Even though the quality isn’t the best a video could be, a massive percentage of user generated videos are very entertaining, I can see more and more people getting involved. Virtual tours are the future in my eyes, I cant see them dieing out anytime soon, as people can find out where they want to go, check the surroundings out, find places, ect.

I also think viral marketing wont lose its affect, if someone sees a video they love or hate, they just have to tell someone else about it, this is something no one can control, even at school you watch videos, of people or adverts or anything and it could go round the whole school. I have spread viral marketing before as I believe everyone has in one way or another, if I see a video that catches my eye, I want my friends to see.