Seeing More Than We Think

The human mind employs archives of images. We produce mental images which reflect our understanding of something, we store them, and use them, whether this is to remember a specific place or guide us through a specific action. The great philosopher Aristotle taught us the latter and concludes that “thought requires images” [View source by Christopher Shields].

“Psychologist Richard Cox describes imagery as the brain’s language. In other words, the brain talks to us in its own language, not consisting of words but — as some psychoanalysts describe it — of ‘plastic pieces’.” Thinking in images —Humair Hashmi

Video Killed the Manuscript Star

Printed or written copy inspires the mind to visualize the read content, yet it requires attention, discipline and a lot of time. Image is mind content on a silver platter. Image satisfies the mind: Pictures, photos and paintings are a few of our favourite things. The world is handing itself over to digital media, and the medium of these things have therefore changed, but the concept of visual satisfaction, stimulation and communication is a thread that runs straight into the digital age.

It is no surprise then, that the internet should be saturated with visual content. Web images appearing in rotating carousels, animated banners, and entire websites allocated to pictures such as Tumblir.com or Pinterest.com.  Images, aesthetically pleasing, yet stationary and silent, is simply not good enough anymore. Digital Video is what we want. Video is the closest and most accurate representation of a real life experience.

“Video…allows concepts to actually be "experienced" and come to life!” [View source by libraryvideo.com]

The Prediction

Featured in Informitv.com news on the 2nd of June 2010, Cisco network technology experts reported estimated figures in a prediction of the rapid rise in global internet traffic, and the single most contributing element to this will be online video.

The statistics are provided in an interactive online tool from Cisco, known as the Visual Networking Index Global Forecast. The model is derived from projections from a variety of well-known independent analyst firms, combined with traffic data obtained from service provider customers.

The estimates follow below, and are predicted to realise by the year 2014.

• Global internet protocol traffic will increase by four times.

• The biggest single component of that will be internet video.

• Global internet video traffic will increase by 7 times

• Internet video to the television display will increase by 38 times

• Video traffic delivered over the open internet will increase faster than video over managed networks. 30% of internet protocol video will be delivered via managed networks, with 70% delivered over the open internet

[View source by informative.com]

These figures may seem over-ambitious, predicted four years ago, yet current data points to these predictions realising indeed. All you have to do to be convinced is to visit YouTube.com and have a look at the number of video views displayed beneath random videos.

Online Video vs. TV

As shown above, it is believed that online video will push Television over the edge. This has become even more apparent with the launch of GoogleTV. Television has become less and less of a favourite over the last couple of years. It is suspected that the reason for this is that the internet offers choice like no other medium can. Online video can be compared to inbound marketing while TV can be compared to outbound marketing. Television offers its programs, movies, music videos and advertisements to you and asks of you to view it. Online video patiently waits for you to come around. It is you who get to choose what you want to see, and you who take the path to see it.

Online viewing has also become very popular since the birth of the Smartphone generation. Mobile and video work extremely well together due to its convenience. It is easier to watch something on your mobile phone than what it is to scroll around on your tiny screen trying to read an article while you’re on the go.

Functional Entertainment: Video for Education, Training and Development Purposes

The expansion of video above the purpose of entertainment proved to be a massive innovation. Although the concept of “to-be-entertained” is embedded within the concept of video, the purpose of video expands more and more, and the entertainment factor becomes an added benefit.

“According to a recent teacher survey, 94% of classroom teachers have effectively used video during the course of the last academic year.” [View source by Lori Griffin]

Educational and training videos are not new concepts. However, online-videos consisting of anything from DIY demonstrations to guitar lessons prove that it has become exceedingly popular. Example: Elearning Management:Effective Video Lectures.

In order to learn something new, the following is required:

1. Motivation to learn about new information.

2. Concentration and discipline whilst learning

3. To understand the given information

4. To be convinced of its legitimacy

Video connotes entertainment in our minds, which means that the term signals an expectation to be entertained. This, along with the fact that image satisfies our thought capabilities, motivates someone to watch a video… any video. This then should motivate the idea of learning through video when compared to learning through reading brick thick printed manuals.

An animated image with combined audio grabs and holds attention. This is why a two year old baby will get stuck in a trance while staring at a television although he is not really watching anything. The combination of visually interesting material and well written audio scripts incorporating jingles and music will affect the level of concentration and discipline that students hold.

A threat to one’s concentration is this common thing called the “zone-out”. We “zone-out” and stop paying attention the moment that our train of understanding gets interrupted, usually by something that does not make sense to us. Video makes comprehension fully attainable. For example, a procedure is explained to you in a human voice, it is then demonstrated to you by real people, doing it exactly how you would, various scenarios are acted out and a variety of equipment is introduced to you in great detail. In addition to the latter, you would be able to view the video wherever you like and as many times as you’d like… because it would most probably be online.

The demand for documentaries is high, because we want to see things for ourselves before we believe it. Crime documentaries are popular because we are convinced by the evidence footage. Wildlife documentaries are popular because we are convinced of the amazing intricacy of a baby see-horse. We want to be presented with belief-worthy material, we want to be persuaded – video has this kind of power.

All of the above points to why video is so effective and therefore why online video has become the latest digital trend. This innovation of repurposing the medium holds great many benefits for educational institutions, corporate institutions and social development fields. Video is now the most effective and most advanced tool of mass communication.

Sound Idea Digital is a full service Video Production Company that specialise in health & safety videos, training videos, marketing videos, corporate videos, web videos, animation and motion graphics. We also produce industrial, mining, induction, and company launch videos. | www.soundideavideoproduction.co.za | info@soundidea.co.za