FastTrack for iPad - Learn Camtasia Studio 7 on the Go
Posted on Tuesday February 21, 2012 by Daniel Foster
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Have an iPad and Camtasia Studio? TechSmith just released an app called FastTrack that lets you take the complete series of Camtasia Studio 7 tutorials anywhere your iPad can go.
Some of the cool things you can do:
- View Camtasia Studio tutorials offline
- Follow along in Camtasia (use iPad as extra screen)
- Search across videos
- Skim video transcripts (Tip: rotate iPad to portrait mode to see transcripts)
- Give on-the-spot feedback to TechSmith tutorial creators
The app was developed as a TechSmith Labs initiative, which means it's an experiment. We're hoping to learn the answers to questions like: Is this the kind of thing customers find useful? Should we add community or social features? Add tutorials for other products?
Give it a whirl and tell us what you think over on our feedback site!
FastTrack FAQ
Q: Why create an app with videos that are already available online?
A: While the videos are available online, that doesn't necessarily make them very portable. If you are commuting, on a trip, or somewhere without a wifi or network connection you won't have access to the content. Part of the idea behind TechSmith FastTrack is to make this content available when you're ready to learn.
Q: Isn't it weird to put how-to videos about a desktop program on an iPad?
A: There are lots of things that are weird, but putting video content focused on learning is probably not one of them. In fact, having this content on the iPad actually makes a lot of sense. First off, when you're using a program like Camtasia Studio, it's actually easier to watch a how-to video on the iPad and follow along. Switching back and forth between the video and the application can be cognitively taxing and asking people to put a lot of information in short-term memory. Like a training manual or book, the iPad app delivery is flexible and readily available. Best part is, you don't have to use paper weights to hold the book open to the right page as you work - the video will be right there waiting. So if making content easily available in a different context is weird (but not so different than a PDF, physical book or e-book), than call us guilty.
Q: So all this does is play videos?
A: Yes, pretty much it. It's very focused and targeted. Anyone who wants to learn Camtasia Studio basics will benefit. Could we decide to do more, add more content, make it something more than it is? Yes, perhaps. A lot of that depends on feedback and how people end up using it. That's why we want to hear what you think!
Q: So where's the Android version?
A: We definitely recognize that the value of an app like FastTrack cuts across tablet operating systems. At this point, we are only starting to evaluate the possibilities and future options of delivering learning content on mobile tablet devices. As we better understand the impact and possibilities of an app like FastTrack, we will need to decide if and how we support other versions. For now, if you want to see a Android or other platform version of FastTrack, please leave us some feedback.
Comments (4)
This is great, works totally as expected... and your rationale for creating the App are just fine. It will be fun to watch whether you make similar Apps for other TechSmith products, which I think would be useful.
In fact, one interesting strategy might be to tell people how to set up their own tutorial content in a form "ready" for FastTrack, and make an offshoot App from the current version which could upload/play our own tutorials with your "player" App, eg FastTrack Player. You might have an in-App link to bring new tutorials into the Player??
One quibble... The name FastTrack is a tad generic, maybe, so TechSmith FastTrack or CamtasiaFastTrack or FastTrackCamtasia might be more discoverable?
Posted by Mike Lougee | February 21, 2012 3:26 PM
Posted on February 21, 2012 15:26
Thanks for the feedback Mike...we appreciate that!
The FastTrack Player idea is intriguing. Something like the iTunes of screencasts?
Another route for delivering rich content to iOS might be iBooks, which we explored a little in the latest episode of The Forge: http://bit.ly/yzpDa5
Agreed that the FastTrack moniker is somewhat generic. It was mostly a consequence of character display limits and a desire to keep the door open for adding content related to our other products.
Thanks again for checking out the app and taking the time to share your thoughts!
Posted by Daniel Foster (TechSmith) | February 22, 2012 10:04 AM
Posted on February 22, 2012 10:04
Oh, one more thing... If you can put a quiz-delivery-capability into the FastTrackPlayer, would you have a KhanSmithAcademy for offline use, to accompany your iTunes of screencasts? It might be an interesting add-on for Camtasia Relay??
Thanks for TechSmith Labs, it's a great way to get some early prototypes out for evaluation and "market testing."
Posted by Mike Lougee | February 22, 2012 12:07 PM
Posted on February 22, 2012 12:07
I heartily second Mike's idea of a generic screencast player app.
I've even encountered people using the iPod Touch as their playback device for downloaded video tutorials so as not to clutter their computer screen (which is running the program the tutorial is for).
Posted by Avi Solomon | March 2, 2012 8:33 AM
Posted on March 2, 2012 08:33