The possibilities surrounding YouTube's Video Annotations are quite incredible. Although only in the beta stage, the new feature is showing promise for the future of YouTube and online video media. Video uploaders now have the capability to annotate their creations, opening up a new dimension for users.It's more than simply the ability to comment on your own work though, YouTube's Video Annotations will also add a new level of viewer interaction. Going beyond simple notes to explain what's happening in the videos, or to draw viewers' attention to particular areas, YouTube has made the feature capable of audience participation. With several examples pioneering the possibilities of the new feature, one being a pretty cool magic card trick, YouTube shows off some ways to play with its new toy. Once you've picked a card, they'll be spread out facedown on the screen and a prompt to select your card pops up. The viewer clicks on the card they think is theirs, and a new video with the result opens up.
These interactive videos mean that YouTube is now open to a wealth of new opportunities, including educational facilities as well as more amusing ones. Tutorial videos can now have an interactive 'test' element, for example asking questions the viewer will answer before being taken to a 'right' or 'wrong' video in response. For example, the new capabilities can be utilized to improve language skills - with viewers being able to select written responses to written or verbal questions, testing both vocabulary and spelling, and these knowledge quizzes will make it difficult for the users to cheat - though such videos could end up as quite time-consuming for the creator.
One possibility YouTube cites on its blog is an interactive video capability that branches out in a "choose your own adventure" style, where a wealth of different outcomes can transpire based on the selections the viewer makes. Viewers will watch the video until the point where a choice must be made, click on their preferred option, and be taken to the outcome video. This could continue along any number of branches, to any number of outcomes - it's all down to how many videos the creator has in them. Who knew they had causality on the internet these days?
