UKB overview videos

[Pete Eeles]

Hi all - I'd appreciate your thoughts on this video - am thinking of doing a few more

Best viewed full screen and maximum quality!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0uNGWP7dqA[/video]

Cheers,

- Pete

[Pete Eeles]

And another

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpHCSXKD5Nw[/video]

Cheers,

- Pete

[Mark Colvin]

Hi Pete,

Excellent ...

Referring to the first video, as I haven't viewed the second yet, I feel this to be a very useful resource for, in particular, first time visitors to the website. It also acts as an important reminder to regular users of the vast extent of information encompassed within this one-stop shop for everything to do with British butterflies. Personally, I know just how much time and effort you put into this valuable resource and the butterfly enthusiast has a lot to thank you for.

Keep up the great work.

Kindest regards. Mark

[Padfield]

Hi Pete. I think this is a brilliant idea - and I'd love to know what software you used for recording your voice and screen like that.

You obviously put a lot of thought into the structure and content of these videos but I just wonder, before you produce too many more, whether a shorter format, dealing with less at a time, would be more effective. The overview video is over 15 minutes long and to be honest, I've never watched any video that long from beginning to end - I prefer the written word.

Obviously, where videos really come into their own is in showing you how to do things, and this is especially useful for websites and software, where you can show people where to click and where to find the things they want. It is also nice to have this personal introduction from you - it is very welcoming and inspires trust in the site. We'll see what other people think, but I would favour a format of a maximum of 3 minutes per video, each with a digestible amount of information and a simple skill conveyed, the videos being laid out on a page where you could easily choose what to view. An overview of the site that lasted under three minutes could cover everything and have much more chance of being viewed all the way through than a 15 minute one. Then there could be separate videos on the species pages, the articles, the photo galleries, the forums, reporting sightings, responisble butterflying &c.

I don't mean to be critical, because it's good stuff - I'm just being practical, I think! To watch nearly 16 minutes of video you already need a certain level of commitment and I wonder if shorter videos could help generate that commitment rather than depend upon it.

Guy

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks both - just spoke with Mark and he gave exactly the same feedback (more or less)!

To be honest - it was an experiment - and this feedback is exactly what I was after - so many thanks!

I also think some of the articles (e.g. Variation) would benefit from being delivered via video. I've presented on the topic a few times and it can run into an hour, easily, but will think about chunking that up too. Onwards and upwards!

Since I've now "gone Mac" the process is trivial - start up QuickTime, start a video recording, select the screen area, start talking, hit the stop button = 1 movie. It really is as simple as that! Gone Mac - never looked back

Cheers,

- Pete