When I set out with the idea for Commentrain, it centered around the idea of giving the online community a chance to redefine, clarify and remix uploaded videos with using a nontextual interface. By freeing users comments from the restrictions of text, users would have more creative control when it comes to dissecting a visual medium such as video.
Since last semester, Commentrain has undergone major changes, the most notable being the order of available options users have when accessing the site.
Originally the focus of the site, the only thing that users would be able to do, was to pick a still frames from a video, And then using the non-textual interface, create a contribution that is mapped to that specific frame.
After receiving feedback it became apparent that not every user who came across the site would have the time or the inspiration to think of a contribution right off the top of their head and then have the interest to actually bring that contribution to life on the web. That’s where the stamping portion of the site came into existence
When users browse through a reel of still frames the option to stamp that frame with an attribute actually takes precedence over the original contribution system of the site.
This stamping system would use a simple pulldown menu that holds a variety attributes comprised of prebuilt labels for types of shots like point of view shot or a recurring shot as well as the option for users to create their own attributes.
Once an attribute is picked, it is stamped to that frame and would show up alongside the other attributes that other users had stamped in the past.
In the reel library section of the site each frame that has at least one attribute is given a blue border when users hover their mouse over that frame,
By making it simple to tell which frames have received attention IE scouting out the reel, it becomes easier for users to scope out frames that people care about.
The attribute stamps themselves are the icing on the cake as the short explanations of what people thought when it came to a specific frame can serve as inspiration for users to leave a contribution of their own.
The majority of changes that have been made are purely user interface level changes to enable users to navigate the now web-based site in a more realistic fashion.
The process of allowing users to dissect a video frame by frame and analyze or redirect the video’s original perceived purpose is still completely possible.
Despite changing the order of user’s available options the core functionality of the site has not deviated from it’s originally perceived path.
