With a mobile phone, you can watch movies/videos/TV programs online anywhere at almost any time. That ubiquity has brought tremendous convenience to our lives, but on the other hand, the value of them has been diminishing. We don’t very much/at all care about where we can get a clip or if we miss a drama episode. What if, however, we have a movie that can be watched only when certain conditions are met?

This concept is partly like a concept I’ve already introduced in my blog, but a little different.
OK, so you hold this device in front of you and watch a clip, but the clip can be played only if you are at a particular place. You have to BE there to see the whole movie.

For example, you can see

1. a movie’s secret story at an actual scene
2. a sequel clip to a TV commercial with how to apply for an exclusive present announced at the end
3. your favorite actress choose clothes at a boutique
4. a comedian introduce which spots you should visit in a touristy place

etc. etc.

Or you can shoot a video of yourself for your boyfriend saying “Hey, how long do you think I’ve been waiting for you? I’m going home.” so that he can see it when he finally arrives.

By limiting the geographical conditions for viewing movies this way, you might expect audiences to visit places you like.

It would be so much fun if videos can be seen in 3D from any angle (no, not from below).

We’re so used to socializing in a digital world that we don’t even think about how strange we communicate. While we build up friendships very slowly in real life, we’re adding new friends on the Internet as if our life depends on it. In the meanwhile we often forget about the consequences of doing this. The British sketch group Idiots of Ants decided it was time to make a comedy sketch about this (and in particular Facebook).

During my academic years I once created an interactive movie with a couple of friends. This movie was called Snapped and told the story of an unsecure guy. He had to make some choices in life and you could help him… if you didn’t do this on time he would automatically go for the easiest way. At that time we created this movie with a lot of sweat, blood and cursing in Macromedia Director. Those days are over, the internet and Flash have finally taken over.

A few months ago Youtube launched a new feature, the possibility to add annotations to movies. This created a whole new level of interactivity to movies, enabling creators to add links in movies on specific places and times. It was to be expected that interactive movies would be build, and Time Machine is one of them:

This way of interactivity isn’t exactly new in itself. Interactive movies have been around for ages, but never in an online social environment. It has to be sad that it still doesn’t look really sexy, embedding these giant buttons… but we can be sure that better possibilities will soon arise. I’m really curious what creative possibilities people will come up with when using annotations. Wouldn’t it be great to pick a famous story, split it in small parts, let people film 1 part and then connect these all together. This would be the first co-created movie.

Another good interactive movie on Youtube is Follow Your Instinct, which is actually an interactive Samsung ad:

A few weeks ago we wrote about interfaces used in movies. And although these types of interface look really impressive, they are almost never realistic. Until now… because the science advisor of Minority Report has been working on a working prototype, based on the interface in the movie. And I have to admit that this so-called ‘spatial operating environment’ g-speak looks almost as impressive as in the movie.

Oblong Industries is the company behind the prototype. They believe that their interfaces ‘brings the first major step in computer interface since 1984.’ Oblong states that ‘g-speak will fundamentally change the way people use machines at work, in the living room, in conference rooms, in vehicles.’ But although it looks really interesting, it also seems to require a very active attitude of the user. Large arm (beyond hand) gestures are needed and very ‘enthusiastic’ interactions with a large environment. I wonder if this is what people like in everyday life… Isn’t subtlety a better direction? Small subtle gestures, needing a small environment.

The interface designed by Oblong Industries:

g-speak overview 1828121108 from john underkoffler on Vimeo.

The interface from Minority Report:

Not only games are a healthy source for innovative interface design. Hollywood also always tries to look into the future and create impressive interfaces in their sci-fi and action movies. Most of the times the interfaces only have to look cool, and any professional would immediately spot the errors. But sometimes they are really impressive and cause jealous interaction designers, like in The Island and Majority Minority Report. A lot of these interfaces where designed by Mark Coleran. Check out what he creates

Another interface, which isn’t designed by Coleran, is the Minority Report interface. Luke Wroblewski wrote an article about this futuristic (but also realistic) interface.