Camtasia Studio's PiP feature...not just for talking heads
Posted on Monday October 31, 2005 by Betsy Weber
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We have a Smart Board at TechSmith, and for a long time it sat unused because most people didn't know how to set it up. It reminded me of the exercise machines many people often buy - only to use them as very expensive clotheslines.
Then, Camtasia Studio Assistant Product Manager Travis Stoliker recorded a video showing how to set up the Smart Board, complete with Picture in Picture (PiP) video.
Click here to watch the video.
After he made the video and shared it with the rest of us, the Smart Board is finally being used as more than your basic whiteboard.
Often PiP gets used for 'talking head' type videos - but many people don't think of using it to show more than the presenter. This aspect of it has proved very useful for us around the office, as we use it to make quick training videos on things like installing hardware.
I'm even going to make some knitting videos soon with a PiP video of my hands to show people in my knitting club how I do some stitches they've been asking about.
What are you using Camtasia Studio's PiP feature to show?
Comments (4)
How about some cooking 'casts, where it's mostly stills (with flying arrows, cursor pointer, circled areas of interest, etc) but which has occasional PIP with real video, for the techniques that require motion videos.
Or some first-aid screencasts? Maybe the approprite use of the defibrillator units hanging on the wall of every gymnasium would be a good candidate? (At least there's no blood & gore involved!)
Posted by Mike Lougee | November 1, 2005 1:29 PM
Posted on November 1, 2005 13:29
Fire Saftey: Get a real fireman to talk about fire saftey for schools and homes. Showing the escape routes for each school. Parents could do ones for their own homes. Business owners could use it as part of their orientation of new employees.
Expanding on the First Aid idea: Doctors could use it to show the proper way for a woman to do a breast self examination. Or for men a testicular self-examination. Basic first aid. setting bones, treating burns, cuts, and shock.
Get McGruff http://www.mcgruff.org/ to do saftey tips for kids and adults on all kinds of subjects. Stranger danger, dangers of fireworks, how to dial 911, who to talk to if you have a problem.
Cub & Boy Scout Leaders could use PIP to show the kids what they would have to do to get Merit Badges. Even going as far as to make step by step tutorials.
Librarian's could pass out a CD that discribes all the services that it has to offer. Programs, resources, hours open.
How to put on makeup. A step by step guide.
Schools could use PIP to show what is and is not proper dress for the new year.
Schools could use PIP to show how to deal with bullies, peer pressure.
Colleges could use PIP to show potential students what they have to offer, where things are located, the admission process.
Museums, parks, and other tourist locations could use PIP to on DVD's that contain virtual tours.
Bible Study, Home Improvment, Do It Yourself, Hobbies, Basic Self-Defence Techniques, Art Lessons
Posted by M. Burns | November 1, 2005 3:08 PM
Posted on November 1, 2005 15:08
This is awesome! Thanks so much for the feedback! Your ideas are very creative.
Anyone making videos like these M. Burns suggested?
Would you mind dropping me an email?visuallounge@techsmith.com
Betsy Weber
Posted by Betsy Weber | November 10, 2005 4:12 PM
Posted on November 10, 2005 16:12
Hi Mike - these are great ideas! I hadn't thought of those...
I think I'll have to try the cooking casts myself! :-)
Have you seen anyone else making any of these types of videos?
Betsy Weber
Posted by Betsy Weber | November 10, 2005 4:14 PM
Posted on November 10, 2005 16:14