Introduction
Video is becoming more widely used within interactive media, mostly due to the advancements of the technology within the industry. For example, Web video has started to emerge as a key tool which helps businesses streamline communications (e.g. Video conferencing), which in turn enhances the productivity. Video is rapidly becoming accessible to the public due to the hardware it is now available on, (Mobile phones). Because of this, video is becoming a core asset within politics, and other areas of major industries. With the impact of video on our cultures, amateur and professional video editors have found themselves developing new forms of a viral pop culture, where memes such as 'The dramatic chipmonk' and 'numa numa' have shown. There are numerous surveys being conducted in support of the video evolution within interactive media. One of these reports is called "Enhancing Productivity with Web Video: How Online Multimedia Improves Communications and Fosters Business Efficiency," It contains real world examples of how Video is allowing businesses to gain leverage and ultimately benefit. A free copy was obtainable from their home website, www.feedroom.com, but the link has since been removed.
Conventions
The jump from VCR to DVD recording has given plenty of benefits, such as higher image & sound quallity and higher signal consistancy, I.E. no degredataion of video. Also the fact that DVD isnt a linear medium comes into play here. In a sense, designing a DVD menu, is like designing a website, because it doesnt have to be used to view everything it contains. However, there was a simplicity with video dubbing on a VHS platform, where as on DVD it has become far more complex, e.g. Filters and effects added after recording. The same is present when ameture DVD designers come to burining DVDs, as there is some authering knowledge needed to conduct this. In the case of authering, it is important to know how to structure your DVD menus correctly, linking them to the appropriate content on the disk and in a way so the user is able to navigate through it with ease.
DVD interfaces generally come with their 'First play' screen with warnings, such as copyright law and anti piracy warnings. These are menus taht the user cannot skip past, which on a VHS the user could fast forward past. From here it will automatically navigate to the main menu. From this interface the user is able to select a list of menus by navigating via their remote control. As a standard, DVDs generally have the option to play the full movie, an option to choose which chapter to start from, and a Quit/eject button. Other features of DVD menus could be Extras, Comentaries, concept ideas, Trailers, removed scenes, outtakes and more. There may also be options to choose audio pereferences, screen size format and language settings, although these are generally options that the television set may already have embedded. These settings are ultimately down to the authers decisions. They could even be included on other DVD disks.
When desining a DVD menu, the auther needs to heavily take into consideration the end user. This is because, if a DVD menu uses the best imagery, is very unique and original, but is too complicated to navigate through, the chances are it will not sell as well as it should. This is why most designers like to keep it simple. There are some standards of DVD menu that exist. These include things like, araingement of the buttons, or inclusion of a video clip on the main menu. The titles and captions are generally located at the top of the screen, with the buttons for menus are located down the left side of the screen. The lower right would be set aside for text of information. With this said, there are still some DVDs which break this standard convention, Such as 'The IT crowd' and 'Tenacious D - PoD'.
The main reason why DVD authering has now become so easy and widley used, is due to the advances in GI software. Programs such as Final cut pro make the process of linking DVD components easier and much more cost effective, especially on a large scale production. Years ago DVD authers would need to take their time to code each component to work as one unit, and work in a DVD player. However, even with all the advancements, VCR dubbing was much simpler to conduct, just not as robust.
I believe that DVD authering will, atleast for the forseable future, be a combination of technical specifications and asthetics. To design a good menu, it is required to pay close attention to both of these components. As I mentioned before, creativity and uniqueness is not always a guarenteed sucess. DVD's need to be as flawless as possible before being mass produced. There are a series of checks in place to ensure that this happens, but the standard conventions also play a big roll in this. The only problems here are that because more people are able to crete amature DVD's, that find themselves into the market, these standards begin to deminish. One of the tasks that the checks preform is to ensure that every button leads somewhere, checking that they do not lead to a dead end. With that said, it is still important to check and verify your own work, prior to any checks.
Games
Over the years, computer games have used video within them. The video they use is a mixture between 3D animation, and real life video, which is becoming more and more difficult to tell apart. (Beowolf is one film where 3D animation has been taken to a new level in terms of photo realistic imagery). The uses for the video in this instance are usually asociated with the theme of the game itself. For example, If you are playing a war themed game, the video could involve a mission briefing from yuor general, issuing you an order to do something, which allows you to progress further. Stratergy games such as Command & Conqure use this often. Games also use video to edge the player on to continue playing. This is apparent in Tv interactive board games. These games are usually themed towards existing TV programs, that audiences are familiar with. Examples of these games are 'The Family Feud DVD Game - 3rd Edition' and 'The Office Trivia Game'. These games rely on input from the player, to determine an outcome which the character on screen will react to.
Youtube
Youtube, as I have previously mentioned, has shot certian individuals to fame. From what I gather, most of these have no real background knowledge in video or advertising, but it is apparent that they have a unique idea, in which they feel people would enjoy. In terms of interactivity, the videos which are hosted on youtube, can have comments attatched to the video itself. They also allow anyone viewing the video to post comments about it. These comments are accessable to both registered and anonamous users. The comments range from assistance towards the authers work, to people expressing how they feel towards the video. There is also features to attatch the video links to blogs, facebook, and other websites, via copying the embedded HTML code. I did come across an interesting youtube video, where you could actually play an interactive game within the video. Unfortunatly I cannot find this link, but I recall it being a Street fighter game.
Supermarket pay points.
These automated pay points in supermarkets, offer short video clips that are usually orientated in assisting the user by informing them on how to conduct their purchase. The videos that are displayed are usually vector images, rather than real life footage, generally due to cost implications. The video is interactive, in a way that the user can skip parts of it, if they know what to do. Because the video is automated, it jumps to chapters setup by the creator, as the user interacts with it. For example, If the user has finished scanning their items, and is busy looking for their money to put into the machine, the machine will repeat the section of video which asks the user if they are finished scanning their items.
DVD menus
DVD menus are not really what you would consider interactive, but to a degree they are. They have numerous features where, as the user, you must input information, possibly via a remote, to control what happens on the screen. Although the interface is basic, it is quite robust, in consideration of what limited use it has. I allows you the ability to flick though images, video and possibly audio at the pus hof a button. It also allows the designer to include video, still images and audio to be overlayed ontop of each other while it is in use.
Information extracted from
http://www.videomaker.com/article/10690/
http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Design/User-Interface/Multimedia/DVD
http://www.dynamicdigitalcdrom.com/cd-rom-dvd.html
http://pingv.com/services/dvd-authoring-and-design
http://www.smileycat.com/miaow/archives/001683.php
ttp://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/resources/publications/fair_use_in_online_video/
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