VideoClix

VideoClix was incorporated as eline Technologies on May 11, 1999 in Vancouver, Canada, in order to develop interactive streaming solutions with a primary focus on hypervideo over broadband and mobile devices. Their flagship product is software known as VideoClix, a hypervideo authoring product that puts interactivity directly into video, enabling viewers to simply click on objects in the video in order to purchase products, cast votes or get information on the clicked area without having to stop the stream.

VideoClix content can be viewed on any OS or browser without a proprietary component or plug-in on the client side. The technology currently operates on Macs, PCs, IPTV and mobile devices. VideoClix is currently used for commercial purposes such as dynamic product placement, marketing, advertising, eCommerce, entertainment and education. It has major applications in military, gaming and user created content as well.

In September 2006, eline Technologies was acquired by VideoClix Inc.

Background

Hypervideo

Hypervideo, or hyperlinked video, is a displayed video stream that contains embedded, user clickable links, enabling navigation between video and other hypermedia elements. Hypervideo is analogous to hypertext, allowing a user to make choices based on the content of the video and the user's interests.

These clickable links are typically objects in the video. Therefore, to create hypervideo one must segment the object from the rest of the image, and then track the segmented object through a sequence of frames.

VideoClix is an industry leader in hypervideo authoring and the provision of tools for hypervideo.

Video Commerce

The clickable links in hypervideo enabled content can initiate an e-commerce transaction, or lead to information that results in a commercial transaction. This use for video for commercial purposes, also known as video commerce, takes place largely in the form of marketing and advertising.

World wide advertising revenues were estimated to be $428 billion U.S. in 2006. Although internet advertising is estimated at only six percent of the total in 2005, this proportion will certainly increase as advertisers come to appreciate the NATURAL advantages of video commerce : it is non intrusive, it is highly targeted (as viewers choose to follow links), and it allows advertisers to get their message across and accurately analyze viewer behavior in order to generate direct sales.

In addition to Providing authoring tools necessary to create hypervideo content, VideoClix comes with analytics services that provide metrics on viewers' behavior.

Products and services

VideoClix 3.0, the company's eponymous flagship product, is the most recent release of its hypervideo authoring software. It allows the user to autonomously segment and track objects in a video using a click and drag interface. Interactivity is then added by allocating e-commerce features, links, actions, chapters, text tracks, timed triggered events and more.

The videos can then be streamed from any HTTP, RTSP or RTMP server, shared over P2P networks, or tied into any database, e-commerce backend or search engine. File formats include AVI, Flash, H264, Quicktime, Mpeg1, Mpeg2, Mpeg4, DV, and 3GPP. The final output is a standard, self contained and protected file that works on any operating system and web browser without an additional player.

VideoClix also gathers marketing data, including metrics concerning viewers' behavior. VideoClix Metrix is an analytics and data mining service that is available to all VideoClix licensees, allowing them to monitor the audience views, clicks and conversion rates.

VideoClix is also involved in aggregating and distributing hypervideo enabled content through VideoClix TV, including both original productions (fashion shows, trade show highlights, music videos), and re-purposed existing content.

The company also plans to launch a video auctioning service early in 2007. Content owners will upload a video segment to VideoClix, which then tracks and lists objects in the video and offers that list to potential advertisers. Revenue from the auction will be shared with the content owner, providing an innovative model for video content monetization.

As of 2007, VideoClix has licensed its technology to 11,000 licensees, including Disney, Lucasfilm, Dreamworks Interactive, Sony BMG, and Apple. It is currently negotiating with major video portals.

See also

• Hypervideo
• Video commerce

External links

• VideoClix - Official Website