Screencasts: Formal or Informal
When you're watching a video demo of software, or web apps, do you prefer the narrator to be formal, or informal?
"Hi I'm Joe, and I created the interface for this application. In this tutorial I'll be showing you some cool features in StupidApp"
VS
"StupidApp has many features that make your job easier. In this tutorial, you will learn about feature A, feature B, and feature C."
I like the informal dialog. It sounds less "markety" to me, and that appeals to me. But what do you prefer?
Abhishek Reddy posted this at 10:51 — 11th November 2008.
He has: 3,348 posts
Joined: Jul 2001
I prefer the tone to be informal, conversational but flowing, but the editing to be formal and professional.
Most important is the sound editing. You may want to record narration in a second pass, so you get fewer interruptions, interjections and delays. I can't stand screencasts in which the narrator is constantly umm-ing and aah-ing or making annoying sounds that in passing conversation would be ignorable, but are amplified in recorded tracks.
Megan posted this at 14:24 — 11th November 2008.
She has: 11,421 posts
Joined: Jun 1999
I think the personal approach is usually better. Unless your target audience is more conservative for some reason.
Liam and I have this debate about how we should write articles on A Padded Cell. I prefer a more personal approach (Next, you do this, or you can easily ...) while he prefers to avoid the use of any personal pronouns.
Megan
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JeevesBond posted this at 16:09 — 11th November 2008.
He has: 3,956 posts
Joined: Jun 2002
Personally I have a pet peeve with introductions, every time someone says: 'Hi, I'm X and am here to talk to you about my really cheesy Web application!' It always reminds me of Troy McClure. That's probably a cultural thing though, I've noticed even news readers introduce themselves on US/Canadian TV, so many people are used to it.
But I do agree that the corporate way is lame too, worse than the Troy McClure approach. You can be personal without being chatty, professional without being faceless.
Overall: try to strike a balance, and adapt your style according to your audience.
Postscript: Abhi's advice on editing is good too.
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