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ClicFlic Interactive Videos
What is an Interactive Video?
An interactive video combines video imagery with website hyperlinks and forms with video game intelligence to create a richer, more engaging viewing experience. Interactive videos require input from the viewer to keep flowing, and they can branch down different paths depending on what input the viewer provides. Click here for detailed product features and information.
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How are interactive videos different from regular videos?
Interactive videos require that the viewer provide input at one or more times during the viewing experience. This input could be clicking on a choice, or providing form-based input, like name and email address. The interactive video can then proceed down different paths depending on the input provided by the viewer. Additionally, the publisher of an interactive video gets data regarding what viewers are clicking on, or what data they are entering into embedded forms. This data can be quite useful for a variety of purposes, such as video surveys, or customer service modules.
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What are interactive videos used for?
There are many applications in fields from advertising to politics to customer service to training. For instance, marketing applications include product demonstrations and introductions, welcome presentations, customer testimonials, client and prospect surveys, and customer service modules. Training applications include sales or customer service roleplays, leadership simulations, and simulations of difficult situations encountered by police or other law enforcement officials when dealing with citizens and suspects. Anyplace where video imagery, viewer input, and branching intelligence come together, an interactive video can prove useful.
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Can they be played on my computer?
Yes. They can be played via the Internet via any popular web browser. Adobe's Flash player is required. But this is available on more than 98% of Internet-connected computers. They can also be played via an executable file distributed on CD-ROM. They can even be embedded in a PowerPoint presentation.
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Can they be embedded in a PowerPoint Presentation?
Yes. Please follow the instructions for embedding a Flash object.
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Can they be embedded in OpenOffice Impress?
Yes. Please follow the applicable instructions for embedding a Flash object.
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Can they be played on a mobile phone?
In most cases, yes, via the Internet. This requires that the mobile device support Flash 8.
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Can they be played on the iPhone or my iPod?
Unfortunately, they cannot be played on the iPhone or on iPods at this time.
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Can I load an interactive video into a Learning Management System?
Yes, you can deploy your interactive video into any SCORM or AICC-compliant LMS.
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Can I distribute them on a CD-ROM?
Yes. You can dowlnoad files in formats for either Windows or the Mac. If you like, you can also download them in a format that requires a compatible flash player, so you can use them on any other platform that supports the Flash Player.
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What languages can I use?
You can write in virtually any language, including Chinese and Arabic.
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Can I see what viewers are clicking on or what data they are entering?
Yes. This data is available via the ClicFlic website. Using your username and password, you can access real-time reports with comprehensive analytics information at any time. You can also download the report information in MS Excel format for import into Excel or any other popular statistics software package. See the monitoring section of this website for additional information.
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Creating an Interactive Video
What's the cost?
It costs nothing to create your interactive video. However, when you are ready to deploy it to your website, or elsewhere, there is a small fee. The amount depends on how you plan to deploy it and what your expected volume is. Typically, deployment costs between $100 - $200 US.
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How long does it take to create?
The start to finish time to create and interactive video can vary between 30 minutes to many hours, depending on many factors, including overall length, number of segments, editing/reviews required, video production requirements, and the final desired quality. Learning to use the online tool only takes a few minutes. After that, writing the script can take 10 minutes or much longer, depending on how long your script becomes. Next, recording and uploading videos can take 5 minutes and up, depending again on how complex and long the script is and the degree of video quality you are striving for. Finally, deployment only takes a few minutes.
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How should I get started?
It's a good idea to learn the online tool by following along with our step-by-step tutorial at STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL. The tutorial even includes sample video files that you can use. You can also refer to our Interactive Video How-To Page, which provides video-based examples of how to achieve various effects or perform various functions.
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What are the basic steps?
The four basic steps are: - Write the Script and connect all segments to each other.
- Record and Upload Videos for each segment
- Deploy To Your Website or other platform
- Monitor Viewer Activity.
All four activities are managed from the main menu screen for your interactive video.
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Who records the videos?
After you write your script, it is your responsibility to record and edit your own videos (or other media) for each segment. This is typically accomplished using a video camcorder and a printed copy of the script. Then you transfer the recorded videos to a computer and edit them with video-editing software. When each segment is ready, you can upload it to ClicFlic and we automatically insert it into your interactive video. When all video segments are uploaded, you are ready to go.
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What size can I make it?
Your videos can be any pixel size you like. Typical DV videos equate to 640x480 pixels. However HDV and other cameras can create videos of virtually any size. The overall size of the interactive video will use the largest width and height uploaded, plus the border, control bar, and captions window (if you enable accessibility features). Video file size for each segment must be less than 100MB, however.
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Writing a Script
Is there any limit to the number of segments I can create in a single video?
There is no limit. However, branching scripts can become complicated in a hurry. So we recommend that you try a few simple projects before trying a big, complicated one.
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What languages can I write my script in?
You can use any language you like, including complex languages, like Chinese and Arabic.
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What's the 'Summary' for?
The summary section of any segment is an optional way to assign a simple, recognizable description to the author or collaborators. It is used only during script-writing.
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What are 'Notes to Performers?'
These are notes that the script author wants to provide to actors who are recording the segment.
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What are the comments for?
Comments are a general purpose means for you to attch notes to a segment, or for collaborators to share feedback. All collaborators can create and view each other's notes.
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What are Scenes?
A scene is an optional way to group segments together logically. By creating scenes and assigning each segment to a scene, you make it easier to organize your script.
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What are State Variables?
State variables are values that can be tracked from segment to segment. The value can be changed when the viewer selects a particular choice option. The value can then be used to determine whether to show a choice option to a viewer, or to select the response option to use.
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What are Collaborators for?
If you want to allow others to review or even edit your script, or to post videos, you can assign them as collaborators. That way, more than one user can contribute to a script.
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How can I share my script with my co-workers while I'm working on it?
Make them collaborators by using the add collaborators feature in the Write section of the Create-Deploy-Monitor Main Menu.
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How can I view all the pathways through the script?
From the Script Overview page, just click on 'View Pathways' or the little funnel icon ( ). From any viewer choice or response segment edit screen, click on 'View Pathways' at the bottom of the page, or the little funnel icon ().
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Can I create a circular script that never ends?
Yes, you don't need to have an endpoint to a script. You can just keep linking back to previously visited viewer choices and response segments.
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What's the difference between a Viewer Choice and a Response Segment?
A 'Viewer Choice' represents a request for input from the viewer, either by clicking on a selection, or by entering data into a form. A Response Segment, on the other hand, represents a video segment that is played in response to a viewer choice. When you create your video segments, it is the response segments that you will be recording.
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What's an Introduction segment?
An introduction segment is the first video segment (or segments) seen by the viewer. They are always shown before the viewer has to make any choices. Introductions are typically used to introduce actors, set-up a scenario, or to provide background information.
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What's a Feedback segment?
A feedback segment is like a sidebar. It's a video segment that the viewer can optionally choose to play without interrupting the flow of the interactive video. Links to feedback segments are show alongside viewer choices. If selected, the feedback segment plays and closes, leaving the viewer in the exact same place they were in when they first clicked on it.
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How do you designate the first viewer choice?
The first choice show to the viewer, typically after the introduction segment, is the top viewer choice in the 'Script Overview' screen. To change top choice, use the arrow buttons on this screen to move the viewer choice that you want to be first to the top of the stack.
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What's the purpose of the arrow keys and red x's that appear on various screens.
The red x's allow you to delete any segments, scenes, or state variables. The arrow buttons let you rearrange the segments into their most logical order. With the exception of the topmost viewer choice, which is used as the first choice, the position of any segment does not matter in the actual interactive video. However, you can rearrange them to keep better track of them.
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Can I change a script after I have already deployed it?
Yes. You can change a script at any time. Correct a typo, add a choice option, delete a choice option, etc. Changes take place immediately in the actual video, so be careful!
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Can I copy a script?
Yes. Use the copy command in the 'Write' menu.
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Uploading Videos and other Media
How do I create the video segments?
You will need to either use your own video equipment (camera, microphone, etc.) and record each segment yourself, or you can have a professional video production company do it for you. To let ClicFlic help you find the right company, please Contact Us.
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Who edits the video segments?
You must edit each segment yourself, using video editing software. Alternatively, you can hire a professional editor to do the editing for you. To let ClicFlic help you find the right company, please Contact Us.
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Can I use images, audios or flash files instead of videos?
Yes. Any of these formats will work. You can also leave any segment in text form, if you want.
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What file formats are accepted?
For videos, we accept .AVI, .MPG, .MP4, .F4V, .MOV, .WMV (not copy protected). For audio, we accept .AU, .WAV, .WMA, .MOV, .MP3, .MP4. For images, we accept .JPG, .GIF, .PNG, .BMP. And for flash, we accept .SWF.
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Is there a limit on file size?
The current limit is 100MB per file uploaded. If you need to upload a larger file, try compressing the file before uploading.
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What does the system mean by "conversion"?
All video files are converted to either .FLV or .MP4 format. Audio files are converted to .MP3. In many cases, even if you upload a file in these formats, the system will still perform a conversion to ensure that the files metadata is present.
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Does the system automatically compress the files during conversion?
Yes. You can control the amount of compression using the video bitrate setting on the settings page for your video.
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Deploying Your Interactive Video
How can I put my interactive video on my website?
From the Deploy section of the Create-Deploy-Monitor Main Menu. Choose 'Embed on Any Webpage.' You will get some HTML code that you can embed in any webpage. Simply cut and paste the HTML into your web page, or give to your web designer to incorporate it for you.
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Can I deploy multiple interactive videos on the same webpage?
Yes. You can use standalone deployment for all of them, or use the hosted iFrame deployment option.
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What's the difference between standalone and hosted deployment?
In hosted deployment, all files remain hosted by ClicFlic's servers. In standalone deployment, all of these files are hosted somewhere else, such as on your company's web servers. Using either method, you can place your interactive video on any webpage, with reporting back to ClicFlic. The real difference is in managing the files and bandwidth. When deployed on ClicFlic, you don't have to manage any files, and changes are effective immediately. With standalone deployment, you don't have to pay for bandwidth, but you must manage the media files and replace them every time you make a change to your script, which can be a hassle.
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Do the reports work for all kinds of deployments.
Unfortunately not. Reporting works for all hosted deployment types, and for standalone flash files with reporting. Standalone LMS, CD-ROM, PPT, and File System deployments do not support reporting on the ClicFlic servers.
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Once I purchase credits for hosted deployment, can they be used for any of my interactive videos?
Yes, all credits apply to all videos that are in your registered account.
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Do I have to purchase a standalone deployment every time I make a change to a script?
No. You only need to purchase standalone deployment one time per script. Once you have purchased for that script, you can perform as many and as frequent standalone deployments for that script as you like.
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Monitoring Usage and Viewer Inputs
What reports are available?
The following reports are available:- Detailed Activity
- Choice Analysis
- Outcomes Summary
- Viewer Comments
- Detail By Viewer
For detailed information and example reports, please Click Here.
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How quickly are reports updated?
Reports are real-time. Therefore, they provide up-to-the-moment data.
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Can I download viewer data into a spreadsheet format, like Excel?
Yes, for applicable reports. You will see a link to download a .CSV of the report right from the report screen.
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Can I get graphical reports showing how often viewers clicked on particular choices?
Can I get a list of all viewer comments?
How to I see what viewers enter in their forms?
Accessibility and Section 508 Compliance
Do you support closed captioning?
Yes. Simply by enabling the Accessibility features in the 'Edit Settings' page you can enable closed captioning, font size adjustment, screen reader interfacing, tab orders, hot keys, and more.
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Does it function with screen readers?
Yes. It has been tested successfully with JAWS. Be sure to enable the accessibility features in the edit setting page.
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Are hot keys established for all key inputs?
Yes. Hot key definitions are provided to the screen reader for audio output. Standard hot key definitions are: - Start: CTRL-SHFT-W
- Start Over: CTRL-SHFT-W
- Previous: CTRL-SHFT-Q
- Next: CTRL-SHFT-W
- Replay: CTRL-SHFT-R
- Stop/Skip (FFWD): CTRL-SHFT-E
- Click For Me: CTRL-SHFT-T
- Make Comment: CTRL-SHFT-Y
- Play Feedback: CTRL-SHFT-U
- Play/Pause: CTRL-SHFT-D
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Can a viewer tab through all interactive elements in an intuitive tab order?
Yes.
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Can I increase the font size?
Yes. An option to toggle font size is present in the control bar alongside the closed captioning link.
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Why is accessibility disabled by default?
Because the handshaking process with screen readers can introduce slight delays in performance. Additionally, the height of the interactive video is increased by approximately 60 pixels to accommadate the captioning window.
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Can I elect to have the interactive video start with closed captioning turned on?
Yes. Check the appropriate box on the edit settings page.
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