Post on 30-Jun-2015
description
Using Video to Communicate Technology
Deirdré StraughanCommunity Manager, SmartOS and illumosJoyent
About Me
• Technical communicator:
• Book, articles, documentation
• Web sites since 1995
• Videoblogging since 2004
• Joined Sun Microsystems 2007, began using video for technical communication
• Spoke at FISL 2009 about video
• Now employed by Joyent as SmartOS and illumos community manager - itʼs still about communication!
Why Video?
•Efficient information transfer
•Effective learning
•Getting to “know” people
Efficient Information Transfer
• Engineers are too busy to write!
Effective Learning
Getting to “Know” People
Whatʼs Important in Video
•Body language
•Facial expression
•Visual stimulation
These elements result in:
• Increased learning bandwidth
• Increased attention
Body Language
Facial Expression
Visual Stimulation
Tips & Techniques
Filming Conference Talks
Constraints:
• limits on what you can carry
• limits on where you can set up
• the lighting is terrible
• you only get one take
The big question:
•how to capture all the action, both slides and presenter?
During Filming: The Wide Angle Shot
Framing Your Shot
• “Medium” shot: frame the speaker from the hips up• leave ample room for gestures• ...but then how do you get the slides in?
Post-Production Solution: Video Inset
Post-Production Solution: Slide Overlays
You Donʼt Always Need the Slides!
Shooting a Live Video Stream
Beyond the Conference Presentation
Show Floor Interviews
Screencasts
Screencast + Speaker
Projection + Whiteboard
Wildlife Photography: Filming Shy Geeks
Problems:
• may not have been in front of a camera before
• may be intimidated by professional studio
Solutions:
• use a familiar environment
• take your time
• arrange an interview eg by a tech writer
Interview Format
On the Street
In My Living Room
Team Introductions
Technical Product Launches
Historic Opportunities
Shouting in the Datacenter
Professional Video vs What I Do
Professional What I Do
planned/scripted unscripted (by me)
controlled location/studio at event site
recorded in takes recorded live, in real time
camera close to the action camera may be far away
intrusive unintrusive
large, expensive equipment small, cheap equipment
production team one person
strangers community memberslow post-production,distribution published very quickly
expensive cheap
What Are Others Doing with Video?
Whatʼs the Future?
The technology of creating and publishing video will continue to get better and cheaper and easier to use.
It will be used in ways we canʼt even imagine right now.
As Chris Anderson of TED says:
“the rise of online video could turn out to be as significant as the invention of print... online video is driving astonishing innovation in thousands of different fields ranging from the ultra-niche to the sharing of truly world-changing ideas.”
Where to See More
•wiki.smartos.org
•youtube.com/user/deirdres
•my blog: beginningwithi.com
•search for “Videoblogging Manual”
•@deirdres
The Faces of Sun
Appendices
Equipment
• Camera: Canon Vixia HV30
• Rode Videomic
• Tripod
• Electric adapters
• Firewire cable