A new feature recently introduced by YouTube has got the community buzzing. Known as Annotation, it gives video makers the ability to turn their creation into an interactive adventure. Not only that, but users can also narrate their videos, a la, Pop Up Video. The possibilities here are practically endless as examples posted on YouTube illustrate.

While it is likely that the full range of this new feature won’t be realized for weeks or even months into the future, the ability for users to now interact with a YouTube video is the most promising feature here. Anyone who grew up in the 1980’s remembers the fun and excitement of Choose Your Own Adventure books, now people from all around the world can create a video with multiple endings. There are already a host of these videos on YouTube, such as the Magic Card Trick and the Interactive Shell Game . Of course, this is only the tip of the iceberg. The possibility of stories with dozens or even hundreds of choices could be on the horizon.

For those users who want to upload a video of an adventure they had, the Annotation feature allows them to add in comments throughout the video, just like the popular Pop Up Video series from VH-1 from the 90’s. YouTuber’s are already taking advantage of this ability to communicate with viewers in whole new ways, as seen by My 22nd Skydive video. Once your annotations have been added to your video, users have the choice of watching/using them or turning them off if they simply want to enjoy your video.

  Our friend’s at Force Theory Productions are showcasing their use of Annotations and developing a site with a clever URL: www.YouChoo.se . YouChoo.se is creating nonlinear films using live action and gaming story lines. You can see an example of their work right now on YouTube where they give you control of your fate using Godfather scenes. Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seHBKTOwiSE

YouChoo.se weren’t the only folks to predict the coming of Annotation technology. Popular YouTube.com user Mr. Safety from SMP Films has been creating Choose Your Own Adventure style video series for months now before YouTube release the Annotation feature. It is thrilling to think of what YouTube users like Mr. Safety and the fans he’s spawned can do now that this technology is readily available.