Annotating IIIF Video — A Mirador Annotation Editor Video Hands-on

A hands-on guide to Mirador Annotation Editor Video for IIIF video annotation

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Full script

A transcript of the video's dialogue. Read it here when you can't play the audio.

Introduction

  • MAEV: Mirador Annotation Editor Video
  • Adds video annotation to Mirador 4
  • Spatial + temporal targets in one annotation
Metan
What is Mirador Annotation Editor Video?
Zundamon
It is a plugin for Mirador 4 that adds annotation creation for video. It extends the image-oriented Mirador Annotation Editor.
Metan
What makes video annotation different from image annotation?
Zundamon
With images you annotate a region of the frame, a spatial target. With video you can also specify a time range, called a temporal target.
Metan
So a single annotation can cover both a place and a time window?
Zundamon
Exactly. One annotation can carry both a spatial shape and a start-to-end time range simultaneously.

IIIF and Video Background

  • IIIF Presentation API 3.0 supports video
  • W3C Web Annotation format for storage
  • Adapter chooses storage backend
Metan
Does IIIF support video content?
Zundamon
Yes. IIIF Presentation API 3.0 can handle video and audio within the same manifest structure used for images.
Metan
And annotations are saved in what format?
Zundamon
IIIF and W3C Web Annotation format. You can choose the storage backend through an adapter — local storage, your own server, and others.
Metan
What is the license for MAEV?
Zundamon
GPL v3, compared to Apache 2.0 for the image edition. If image annotation alone is enough, the image edition is an alternative.

Using the Official Demo

  • Demo at tetras-iiif.github.io/maev
  • Clock video with 9 sample annotations
  • Annotations appear at matching playback time
Metan
Where can I try MAEV without installing anything?
Zundamon
There is an official demo at tetras-iiif.github.io/mirador-annotation-editor-video with a clock video and nine sample annotations.
Metan
What happens when I play the video?
Zundamon
Annotations matching the current playback position appear in the panel. Each annotation only shows during its time window.
Metan
Can I filter the annotations?
Zundamon
Yes. You can filter by text string or by tag, and export visible annotations from the panel.

Creating an Annotation

  • Three templates: Note / Tag / Expert
  • Draw spatial target with shape tools
  • Set current time captures playback position
Metan
How do I create a new annotation?
Zundamon
Press Create annotation. A panel opens with three templates: Note, Tag, and Expert mode. Choose Note for a standard text annotation.
Metan
How do I set the spatial target?
Zundamon
Use the shape tools under Target to draw a rectangle or circle on the video frame. You can also adjust color and line weight from the Style section.
Metan
And for the time range?
Zundamon
Scroll to the Time section. Play the video to the start scene, press Set current time for Start, then do the same for End.

Summary

  • Press Save to store the annotation
  • npm install mirador-annotation-editor-video to embed
  • Standard IIIF annotation format throughout
Metan
How do I finish and save the annotation?
Zundamon
Enter body text in the Quill editor, optionally add tags, then press Save. The annotation appears in the panel list.
Metan
How do I embed MAEV in my own site?
Zundamon
Install the npm package mirador-annotation-editor-video, then pass miradorAnnotationEditorVideoPlugins to the Mirador viewer config.
Metan
What is the key takeaway?
Zundamon
MAEV combines spatial shapes and temporal time ranges into single IIIF annotations. The Time section is the only new concept beyond the image edition.