Instead of talking about PHP or software development, I'm going to rant about the prevalence of video for just a bit. Video is great, except when I don't want video. I was reading about the Google CR-48 Chrome OS Notebook, and followed a link to a description of Chrome features.
This is the Overview page, which briefly discusses Chrome's cloud-based, always-connected, instant web nature. Great. I click on the Speed link to read about that.
Oh. A video. Pressed for time, I'd rather quickly read a description than sit through a video, so I click on the Sync link to see what that's about.
Hmm. Another video. Connectivity? Video. Security? Video. Updates, Apps, Guided Tour? Argh - all videos. No text.
I kind of expect to see video - or at least screenshots - on a page titled "Guided Tour," but what's wrong with good, old-fashioned text and images for the others, with a link to a video if I want to see one? Surely the vids were scripted, so why can't I simply read some content drawn from those scripts?
I don't mind videos, really, especially when they communicate information more easily demonstrated than described.
The use of video over text content on the web seems to be increasing. I guess videos are supposed to give us an "experience" intended to hold our interest longer than mere dull, dry words. And we certainly are bombarded with text. I see every day in my email inbox the misunderstandings resulting from people's skimming, rather than reading, that flood of written communication.
Is a viewer's comprehension and retention greater than a reader's? I don't know.
I appreciate the efforts people and organizations go through to produce high-quality videos. I'd just like the option to choose whether to read or watch.
Hmm. Blew my first blog post on a rant. Oh, well: nowhere to go but up?
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Nice first post, and I agree. Videos are best when you have plenty of time to sit and watch them...when you really need to learn whatever they're talking about visually/by example. But for me, a step-by step diagram with well-written descriptions also works well. It just depends on what I'm trying to learn.
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