In true year-end roundup style, here is a very brief summary of our web video predictions for 2010:
Device convergence
You can already watch BBC iPlayer on your Wii, and YouTube on your phone – but we’re not quite at the point where web video is properly integrated into the home. A new generation of internet enabled set-top-boxes and TVs with these functions built in could see many more people watching online video in their living rooms – further blurring the line between web video and TV.
Standardised players and formats
Right now, every video player is different and every time a user approaches a site, they need to re-learn (however quickly) a new set of controls. We could see a much more standard approach to the control systems on video players, meaning that users can control video consistently across different websites. Wider adoption of HTML 5 could be a major step towards this, and we could see steps towards general standards in 2010.
Click-able video
We’re launching click-able video in 2010, which will let our clients “draw” regions over their video and point these regions to web addresses. It’s going to be a hugely powerful way of generating interaction with your content. From converting shoppers with “add to basket” links, through to offering support materials on training – the implementations are endless.
We’ll add a link back to this post in December 2010 to see how much we got right.
Tags: 2010, futurology, predictions, trends