Video as Help
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How many of you have been shipping or providing Videos on how to perform tasks in your applications? How have the users responded to it? Also do you hire professionals to do the voice overs? I see that it is a growing trend now. Though personally I don't prefer videos as they take lot of time over reading. However, I see some people actually like it. One thing is certain, very few users actually read the help file or documents. But is the investment on videos actually worth in providing user education?
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How many of you have been shipping or providing Videos on how to perform tasks in your applications? How have the users responded to it? Also do you hire professionals to do the voice overs? I see that it is a growing trend now. Though personally I don't prefer videos as they take lot of time over reading. However, I see some people actually like it. One thing is certain, very few users actually read the help file or documents. But is the investment on videos actually worth in providing user education?
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How many of you have been shipping or providing Videos on how to perform tasks in your applications? How have the users responded to it? Also do you hire professionals to do the voice overs? I see that it is a growing trend now. Though personally I don't prefer videos as they take lot of time over reading. However, I see some people actually like it. One thing is certain, very few users actually read the help file or documents. But is the investment on videos actually worth in providing user education?
Our company just started doing videos. Users seem to really like them. We have everything from "introduction to new features in XYZ release" to "How to's". The videos are shot using the RTM cut, so the UI matches what the user sees. We hire both a professional production company and professional actors, because none of us are pretty enough for that kind of thing; although my constant pleas to hire Jessica Alba as our spokes model continue to go unanswered ... I've even offered my office for her personal use.
:..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
Bad Astronomy |VCF|wxWidgets|WTLmodified on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 2:25 PM
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How many of you have been shipping or providing Videos on how to perform tasks in your applications? How have the users responded to it? Also do you hire professionals to do the voice overs? I see that it is a growing trend now. Though personally I don't prefer videos as they take lot of time over reading. However, I see some people actually like it. One thing is certain, very few users actually read the help file or documents. But is the investment on videos actually worth in providing user education?
Perhaps CP should do it for "How to post questions" and "Do not post programming questions in the Lounge". I'm glad you volunteered! [Edit] Joke icon added, for the humourless or easily confused.
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modified on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 1:31 PM
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Our company just started doing videos. Users seem to really like them. We have everything from "introduction to new features in XYZ release" to "How to's". The videos are shot using the RTM cut, so the UI matches what the user sees. We hire both a professional production company and professional actors, because none of us are pretty enough for that kind of thing; although my constant pleas to hire Jessica Alba as our spokes model continue to go unanswered ... I've even offered my office for her personal use.
:..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
Bad Astronomy |VCF|wxWidgets|WTLmodified on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 2:25 PM
Douglas Troy wrote:
professional actors
So you move beyond showing just the application screens or powerpoints?
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Our company just started doing videos. Users seem to really like them. We have everything from "introduction to new features in XYZ release" to "How to's". The videos are shot using the RTM cut, so the UI matches what the user sees. We hire both a professional production company and professional actors, because none of us are pretty enough for that kind of thing; although my constant pleas to hire Jessica Alba as our spokes model continue to go unanswered ... I've even offered my office for her personal use.
:..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
Bad Astronomy |VCF|wxWidgets|WTLmodified on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 2:25 PM
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Perhaps CP should do it for "How to post questions" and "Do not post programming questions in the Lounge". I'm glad you volunteered! [Edit] Joke icon added, for the humourless or easily confused.
10110011001111101010101000001000001101001010001010100000100000101000001000111100010110001011001011
modified on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 1:31 PM
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How many of you have been shipping or providing Videos on how to perform tasks in your applications? How have the users responded to it? Also do you hire professionals to do the voice overs? I see that it is a growing trend now. Though personally I don't prefer videos as they take lot of time over reading. However, I see some people actually like it. One thing is certain, very few users actually read the help file or documents. But is the investment on videos actually worth in providing user education?
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I resent that! Video making is not programming? Do you make videos in C# or C++? No! His question was legit for the Lounge.
Perhaps sarcasm and humour have passed you by?
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So, you want him to feel responsible that they really are idiots? :laugh:
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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truth in advertising?
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow
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How many of you have been shipping or providing Videos on how to perform tasks in your applications? How have the users responded to it? Also do you hire professionals to do the voice overs? I see that it is a growing trend now. Though personally I don't prefer videos as they take lot of time over reading. However, I see some people actually like it. One thing is certain, very few users actually read the help file or documents. But is the investment on videos actually worth in providing user education?
I do it and as an added feature I have it hooked up to the help system where it is streamed from the server. It cuts down training time to next to nothing and they have the added plus that introduction of the application to new employees is a cinch. In my opinion, its certainly worth it.
If the post was helpful, please vote, eh! Current activities: Book: Devils by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Project: Hospital Automation, final stage Learning: Image analysis, LINQ Now and forever, defiant to the end. What is Multiple Sclerosis[^]?
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Douglas Troy wrote:
professional actors
So you move beyond showing just the application screens or powerpoints?
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
So you move beyond showing just the application screens or powerpoints?
Rama - I stand corrected (I went and double checked what I just said was accurate), the office work-flow stuffs are still just video of screens & audio, with no actors in the shot. A recent video that was shot using a professional production company with actors, were introduction and training videos for our 3D imaging systems. Also, I am sending an Email to our marketing guy that deals with this stuff, and I'll shoot you an Email with what we use and the name of that company; just in case you find yourself in need ... There is discussion about changing how the current Training Videos are done, to include persons (and again, I will continue my endless struggle to get Jessica Alba hired for this).
:..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
Bad Astronomy |VCF|wxWidgets|WTLmodified on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 2:27 PM
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Emil - Gabriel wrote:
Will it be on youtube?
Trust me, if they get Jessica Alba in my office, you guys will NEVER hear the end of it. :rolleyes:
:..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
Bad Astronomy |VCF|wxWidgets|WTL -
How many of you have been shipping or providing Videos on how to perform tasks in your applications? How have the users responded to it? Also do you hire professionals to do the voice overs? I see that it is a growing trend now. Though personally I don't prefer videos as they take lot of time over reading. However, I see some people actually like it. One thing is certain, very few users actually read the help file or documents. But is the investment on videos actually worth in providing user education?
I was involved in a few bits of research after the attempts to do this with live video had turned into nice little disasters and I found something that's quite useful once you understand the interface: Demo-builder 7 from these guys over on http://demo-builder.com/[^] It allows you to do record your actions as you work through a program, at changes in the interface it takes a screen capture minus the cursor, which it animates in it's own system which you can completely change to suit your needs. You can toss in text boxes, audio, or make it interactive with buttons all of which are used to create a flash file. If you're doing it for internal training purposes they also have a quiz builder which is pretty nice and can be easily integrated with .net so long as you are careful certain configurations of it. It was pretty handy and I wound up writing an application around it for delivery of the flash files it produces to customers and new employees. For me it beat the attempts at getting the 'perfect' screen capture which always varies from manager to manager, you record it once, and then animate the cursor however they want it, add in little messages, and get the entire lesson covered with having to edit 'ohh' and 'uhh' out of the audio.
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I do it and as an added feature I have it hooked up to the help system where it is streamed from the server. It cuts down training time to next to nothing and they have the added plus that introduction of the application to new employees is a cinch. In my opinion, its certainly worth it.
If the post was helpful, please vote, eh! Current activities: Book: Devils by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Project: Hospital Automation, final stage Learning: Image analysis, LINQ Now and forever, defiant to the end. What is Multiple Sclerosis[^]?
Mustafa Ismail Mustafa wrote:
t cuts down training time
That might convince me.
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How many of you have been shipping or providing Videos on how to perform tasks in your applications? How have the users responded to it? Also do you hire professionals to do the voice overs? I see that it is a growing trend now. Though personally I don't prefer videos as they take lot of time over reading. However, I see some people actually like it. One thing is certain, very few users actually read the help file or documents. But is the investment on videos actually worth in providing user education?
We are using them to demonstrate hardware setup, and we also use some screen vids for demonstrating specific software features and "lok how easy this is" walkthroughs. We opted against audio and use text screens and subtitles instead. Production is much cheaper, it is much easier for non-native speakers to follow, works better with skipping ahead and going back, and last not least download sizes are smaller. Example Movie here[^] They are a success for workshops where you can tell additional to the video - partly because the stuff we do is interesting (at least to people who come to our workshops), and partly because people can point out the bald spot at the back of the head of the boss. Also, our asian distributors like them. I don't know how many people actually use them personally to learn about the product. Personally I dislike them, as they are static. Videos with asmateruish audio - like channel 9 - make me want to cry and stab someone. anyone. Not good. Still, I think they are a good investment even though I was the one who warned they might be not such a good idea.
Start with a storyboard. You need a ok camera (easy) with a tripod, multiple good light sources and white sheets to create ambient, consistent light. Post processing - cutting and adding text / subtitles - is a good job for a student or school boy/gal, since it's something they consider "fun". Final quality depends a lot on this, though.
Don't attribute to stupidity what can be equally well explained by buerocracy.
My latest article | Linkify!| FoldWithUs! | sighist -
How many of you have been shipping or providing Videos on how to perform tasks in your applications? How have the users responded to it? Also do you hire professionals to do the voice overs? I see that it is a growing trend now. Though personally I don't prefer videos as they take lot of time over reading. However, I see some people actually like it. One thing is certain, very few users actually read the help file or documents. But is the investment on videos actually worth in providing user education?
Yes we've been doing videos which are basically screen captures with text bubbles and no audio and focused on specific tips tricks and tutorials but subtly sneaking in basics on how to use our software and they are *far* more widely used than the complete hundreds of pages manual or the FAQ or the web site help or the f1 help or the online forum. Basically you can't go wrong assuming most of your users are not only illiterate but almost vehemently opposed to reading more than one line of text at a time. We just peruse our support emails and forum postings and find the most frequently asked areas, compile it all and make videos to satisfy the most common issues with a few absolute beginner "Start here" kind. The worst part though is you can't ditch the manual even though it's 10 times more expensive to produce (properly) and used by only 10 percent of your customers because those 10 percent would get *very* angry if it wasn't there and the other 90% want to know it's there even though they will never read it. Just want to add after reading some of the other comments that I don't think it's in any way necessary to have an actual person appear in the video. Also we don't have speaking in ours because our software is used globally and people have a much harder time parsing a foreign accent than they do reading English text (also we are all embarrassed about our recorded voices). We get great response from ours and we use nothing more than a screen capture to video utility which we can then edit and insert text bubbles and it produces a flash enabled page ready to click on.
"Creating your own blog is about as easy as creating your own urine, and you're about as likely to find someone else interested in it." -- Lore Sjöberg
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Yes we've been doing videos which are basically screen captures with text bubbles and no audio and focused on specific tips tricks and tutorials but subtly sneaking in basics on how to use our software and they are *far* more widely used than the complete hundreds of pages manual or the FAQ or the web site help or the f1 help or the online forum. Basically you can't go wrong assuming most of your users are not only illiterate but almost vehemently opposed to reading more than one line of text at a time. We just peruse our support emails and forum postings and find the most frequently asked areas, compile it all and make videos to satisfy the most common issues with a few absolute beginner "Start here" kind. The worst part though is you can't ditch the manual even though it's 10 times more expensive to produce (properly) and used by only 10 percent of your customers because those 10 percent would get *very* angry if it wasn't there and the other 90% want to know it's there even though they will never read it. Just want to add after reading some of the other comments that I don't think it's in any way necessary to have an actual person appear in the video. Also we don't have speaking in ours because our software is used globally and people have a much harder time parsing a foreign accent than they do reading English text (also we are all embarrassed about our recorded voices). We get great response from ours and we use nothing more than a screen capture to video utility which we can then edit and insert text bubbles and it produces a flash enabled page ready to click on.
"Creating your own blog is about as easy as creating your own urine, and you're about as likely to find someone else interested in it." -- Lore Sjöberg
John C wrote:
The worst part though is you can't ditch the manual even though it's 10 times more expensive to produce (properly) and used by only 10 percent of your customers because those 10 percent would get *very* angry if it wasn't there and the other 90% want to know it's there even though they will never read it.
Very accurate.
John C wrote:
no audio
Do you have any samples available to people who don't have your product?
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We are using them to demonstrate hardware setup, and we also use some screen vids for demonstrating specific software features and "lok how easy this is" walkthroughs. We opted against audio and use text screens and subtitles instead. Production is much cheaper, it is much easier for non-native speakers to follow, works better with skipping ahead and going back, and last not least download sizes are smaller. Example Movie here[^] They are a success for workshops where you can tell additional to the video - partly because the stuff we do is interesting (at least to people who come to our workshops), and partly because people can point out the bald spot at the back of the head of the boss. Also, our asian distributors like them. I don't know how many people actually use them personally to learn about the product. Personally I dislike them, as they are static. Videos with asmateruish audio - like channel 9 - make me want to cry and stab someone. anyone. Not good. Still, I think they are a good investment even though I was the one who warned they might be not such a good idea.
Start with a storyboard. You need a ok camera (easy) with a tripod, multiple good light sources and white sheets to create ambient, consistent light. Post processing - cutting and adding text / subtitles - is a good job for a student or school boy/gal, since it's something they consider "fun". Final quality depends a lot on this, though.
Don't attribute to stupidity what can be equally well explained by buerocracy.
My latest article | Linkify!| FoldWithUs! | sighistpeterchen wrote:
We opted against audio and use text screens and subtitles instead.
Phew! I was expecting it to be in Chinese. I am not sure whether I really like silent movies. But probably it is useful when I want to actually know how things need to be done.