HTML5 Impact Over Video and Web

Lately, the online world has shifted from a Flash based video and web experience to an experience that rids them of plugins. It’s a settled debate that Flash will not be a part of the mobile revolution. As Steve Jobs famously said “even if iPhone, iPod, and iPads use Flash, Flash based websites still need to be rewritten for the touch based devices”. As it happened to the mobile devices, where HTML5 based video player replaced Flash, it is now happening to our desktop browsers too. The main force behind this change is HTML5. It has been recognized as the best replacement of Flash for creating and deploying content in browsers, across all desktop and mobile platforms.

Why are videos so important for a better web experience?

According to Forbes Insights, 59% of the executives said they would prefer a video over reading text. Digital content marketing is heavily relying on videos these days. The chances of a video to go viral are much higher than any other form of the digital content. You have better a chance to learn through a video tutorial rather than reading about it. Modern day websites are merging videos with content to deliver their message more efficiently.

Interactive videos and their impact on entertainment, advertising and shopping.

A few days ago, I watched an interactive video built with WebRTC. It used the front camera on my iPhone to let me interact with the video. The best moment was when I was able to move the reflection of a mirror (in the video) by moving my phone. For me this is one of the biggest strengths of HTML5 based content. It does not require a plug-in and gives you real time interaction with the content on a website.

It is easier to produce interactive videos in HTML5 than any other animation platform. It gives users the freedom to use any device without worrying about plug-in updates. It also takes less time to load as compared to Flash and Silverlight players.

As for advertising, the most important aspect of HTML5 based videos is its ability to customize videos at run-time. The simple concept behind customizing a video at run-time, is to show exactly what a user may want to see or may easily recognize. A customer may comprehend your message better if you display the right thing as per their culture. For example, a German user watching a video displaying your clients may easily recognize Carlsberg as compared to the Chicago Bulls. Think all the possibilities with such customization in helping customers to make a buying decision.

On the shopping front, a lot has changed since last year’s Cyber Monday. Mobile shopping has turned into the talk-of-the-town. Maybe that’s the reason why the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has advised advertisers to implement HTML5 standards into their ads. Visibility of ads to the users across all platforms may lead to a better e-shopping experience.

Wrap Up

People are consuming videos more than ever. It’s a social norm to watch and share videos. Vines have also helped by popularizing short-videos, well within the average attention-span. We needed a better video experience on the web and HTML5 is here to save the day.