Build a better Demo
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Make your screen recording a powerful communication tool
No one will deny that moving pictures are a very powerful and compelling
form of communication. They can instantly capture the interest of the
audience and immerse them in a sensory experience that demands their
complete attention. This form of communication draws the viewer into a
reality where your messages and ideas have centre stage - if done
correctly.
This short guide will give you a head start on creating demonstrations
that will help you keep the attention of your audience. It will provide
some basic tips that can be found in almost any video recording handbook,
and this is not surprising, as recording your screen activity is a process
very similar to filming a movie with a video camera.
Have a storyboard
Plan what you want to say and show. Your demo has a message. It has a
beginning, a middle, and an end.
The beginning is an introduction to your demo. Make it clear why your demo
exists and what the viewer can expect. Use headings and annotated text
combined with the splash screen of your product to convey this message.
Example text might be "Welcome to Widget Organiser" "This short
demonstration will show you the benefits and features of our software". It
is also important to give the viewer a sense of 'place', don't start
showing features of your software on a dialog that is several levels deep
into your application, start at the beginning. Show the viewer how to
start your application, and how to navigate to the screen you are about to
present. Do not confuse the viewer at the beginning of your demo; this
will not keep their attention.
The middle is the main content of your demo. This is where you will
visually demonstrate the features of your software. Make sure the flow of
your demo is coherent. Create a real life scenario of how you would use
the features of your application and present them in the correct logical
order.
Finally give the viewer a sense of completion and achievement from viewing
your demonstration. Show the results of using the features in your
application and reinforce the benefits of your software. An example would
be a final shot of all Widgets in sorted order with a caption "And now
your Widgets are organised!"
Timing is
everything
There is one thing that will definitely make your demo look
unprofessional, and that is if it moves too fast. There is an interesting
psychological phenomenon to creating demos of your own applications - this
is the tendency to present the information at a speed that most first time
viewers would find uncomfortable. Because you are intimately familiar with
the software and, more importantly, you are familiar with the content of
the annotated text, it can seem to you that the text display time you have
chosen is more than adequate. However, remember that your demo or tutorial
is aimed at someone who has little or no knowledge of your software. The
first time viewer is not just reading your text, but is also trying to
understand it whilst looking at the images of your application - there is
a lot of information to be absorbed in this type of presentation. A good
rule of thumb is to display your talk bubble text for a period of time
that will allow you to read it twice. This will give most viewers enough
time to read and understand your message.
Your demo is a series of images, usually of complex software scenes. When
presenting a new window or dialog, allow the viewer some time to view the
scene before displaying your annotated text. This allows them to become
comfortable with the visual change. A delay of 3 to 5 seconds is usually
adequate.
When selecting from menus or clicking on buttons or using any part of your
applications graphical user interface, make sure the viewer can observe
the changes that take place. For example, hold down the mouse button for
at least half a second when clicking on a window button, this will ensure
that the viewer will see the changed state of the button and hence
understand the action you have performed. Similarly, before selecting an
item from a drop down menu, allow the viewer time to observe the contents
of the menu (by reading it twice), before selecting the desired item. If
you use your application in a reasonably slow, steady and methodical
manner whilst recording, then your audience will not lose comprehension of
your demo.
Use visual cues to
attract the viewers' attention
Many software applications will present as complex movie scenes, and often
the viewer can be lost or overwhelmed by the amount of visual information
that needs to be absorbed. Hence, it is very important to direct the
viewers' attention to the relevant part of the scene. Highlights, callouts
or talk pointers can all be used to direct the viewers' attention. The
mouse cursor can also be used as a pointer. When moved in a natural
manner, it can add expression and personality to your demonstration,
making it a lot more engaging.
If your application has a lot of animation, then try not to let this
animation distract the viewer from your annotated text and the message you
wish to convey. Freezing your application whilst explaining something will
not be seen as unnatural.
Build a better Demo
The above advice gives you a good head start on using screen recordings as an
effective communication medium. With these
tips in mind and a good dash of creativity on your behalf, you will soon
have an engaging, professional and effective demonstration of your
software products.
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