Moving your documentation to video

Recognizing opportunities for video documentation and delivery

Matt Sullivan@[email protected]/mattrsullivanlinkedin.com/mattrsullivan

MOVING DOCUMENTATION TO VIDEO

Senior member, Society for Technical Communication

Top 20, Mindtouch 100 Most Influential in Tech Comm

Current ACE/ACI in 10 Adobe applications

Adobe Forums MVP

INTRODUCTION

Please let everyone know your namecompanyan idea of what you’d like to get from today’s session

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN

Technical documentation is moving toward video at an ever-increasing rate. From YouTube to free recorded webinars, to services like Lynda.com, recorded video training is a powerful medium.

Join STC Senior Member Matt Sullivan, ACE, ACI for a four hour BYOD workshop designed to help you implement video training using various tools.

Matt (@mattrsullivan) helps individuals and teams implement tech comm and e-learning strategies by integrating text, video and online deliverables.

SALES PITCH

Footage captured with a video cameraRecorded live sessions

(video or web conferencing) With or without “talking heads”With or without accompanying PowerPoint slidesWith or without recorded computer actions/functions

YouTube-ish Screen recordings Scenario-based eLearning Software demonstrations

DISCUSSION: WHAT IS VIDEO?

Much of eLearning is PPT-likeScenario-based is more cognitive

content, less skill-oriented. Explains concepts

Scenario-based material may start as Policies & Procedures WebHelp topics Existing PPT presentations for webinars and in-person

training

Software (demo or simulation) training is skill-specific and involves use of computer

SCENARIO V. SOFTWARE TRAINING

Look for diffi cult textual contentWhere do your users ask for

clarification?Where does the text become

ambiguous? Long lists of actions Intricate interfacesLots of contextual references

The third active option below the second divider

IDENTIFYING CANDIDATES FOR VIDEO CONTENT

Budget (both time and money)ToneLevel of interactivityLevel of detail

More detailed = SimulationLess detailed = Live recordingConcepts = Scenario/PPT

CHOOSE APPROPRIATE VIDEO FORMAT

Informal Live VideoMac

Apple QuickTime Player Internal video camera

Windows Articulate’s

screenr.com Free and paid versions

More formal actions

Mac Adobe Captivate Apple QuickTime Player

Capture software activity

Windows Adobe Captivate Camtasia Articulate Storyline PPT using Articulate or

Adobe Presenter

RECORDING OPTIONS

Reuse of recorded webinars/training Connect GoToMeeting

LAB/EXAMPLES

Software demos

LAB/EXAMPLES

Scenario-based training Presenter

LAB/EXAMPLES

Software Simulations Captivate

LAB/EXAMPLES

Incorporating 3D

LAB/EXAMPLES

Text links (youtube or other streaming media servers)

PDF links (external hyperlinks v. embedded 3d, live video, s/w sim’s)

Help(external hyperlinks v. embedded video content)

LMS(added to topic or course)

EPUB (text or active hyperlinks)

INCORPORATING PUBLISHED VIDEO

Webinar/Screen recording (45 minutes) Development: Less than 4 hours Recording time: 45 minutes Editing and publishing: 1-2 hours

Software simulation (3-5 minutes) Development: 2-3 hours Recording: 3-5 minutes Editing and publishing: 4-8 hours

Scenario-based Cost of PPT, +30%

COST OF VIDEO PRODUCTION

Movies and demonstrations MP4 for YouTube and universal delivery FLV/F4V for placement into Flash-based outputs

Simulations SWF for placement into documentation

Be aware of incompatibility with iOS (Apple mobile) devices

HTML5/MP4 for output as movie content

FORMATS

TIPS!

Start with your end goal and work backward I use PPT for outlining

Storyboard/script are fluid documentsI like 2-5 minutes for target length of

module

STORYBOARDING

DEMOS/SIMULATIONS

One thing at a timeKeep it shortStay away from hype

Beware the infomercial

Properly set environmentPay attention to

Mic Camera Echo/acoustics Visual clutter

RECORDING LIVE SESSIONS

Record actions independent of audioRecord deliberately and accuratelyTime slides and perfect scripts prior to

audioAttach audio to objects, not slides when

possible

RECORDED COMPUTER ACTIONS

Give user predictableMovementCommunicationConventions

CONSISTENCY

Use caption and highlight box to announce mouse movement

Tether audio to caption when possible Set mouse movement to exact center

of click area Set click boxes to at least the total of

the clickable area

SUGGESTED MOUSE/CAPTION INTERACTIONS

Use original script to create computer generated audio if available

Time slides and modify using PC voice Use finalized versions to capture audio

in one session, using quality room and equipment

If on Mac OS, use Audio MIDI Setup to adjust volume of mic

Use a decent mic with a pop filter (spit screen)

AUDIO TIPS

Live Video

Look first for direct options to YouTube or cloud-based servers

orSave or download

MP4 to your driveUpload manually to

servers

Simulations/Scenarios

Set up publishing preferences

Create/modify skin if necessary

Choose Direct LMS upload FTP upload of .zip files Save to local disk

PUBLISHING TIPS

I help people with documentation delivery.

Matt Sullivanmatt@[email protected] 798-7596

CONTACT ME