Knowledge capture

iPOV has used video to extract and record expert knowledge from a wide variety of settings and situations - using many different video recording techniques. The examples shown here are just a small subset from more than 500 projects that iPOV has successfully completed.

  1. Screen Capture Movie on Office PC
  2. Camcorder Interview in Office
  3. Camcorder with Black Backdrop
  4. Handheld Camcorder in a Warehouse
  5. Screen Capture Movie of Web Conference
  6. Camcorder in Engineering Lab
  7. VCR from Desktop Presentation Camera
  8. Camcorder in Warehouse
  1. Camcorder and Tripod in a Hotel Room
  2. Camcorder and Tripod in an Auditorium
  3. Screen Recording from Home PC
  4. Camcorder in Expert's Home
  5. Extracted from Legacy Video Tape
  6. Camcorder in Electronics Factory
  7. Camcorder on Factory Floor

Informal, Non-threatening Capture Sessions

All of these examples shown above have one thing in common. Video was used to make knowledge capture faster, more complete and much easier for the expert.

Video's greatest virtue is one that is most often overlooked. It can capture action as it occurs in its natural state. If you want an expert to explain something, just ask them. If you force them to write it or formally present it, they must labor to prepare and organize their thoughts. That's a strong deterrent to their participation. However, if you ask them to informally 'show and tell', most experts will enjoy the experience. Then all you have to do is make a low-key video recording of the session.

So why isn't this done more often? The answer, in our opinion, is that most people believe that 'making a movie' is a big deal. We think it needs to be perfect - so making it will be arduous. Fortunately, YouTube and its kin are rapidly dispelling that myth. Informal video is proving that it can be interesting, compelling and useful.

iPOV has taken this insight to the next level. It's not enough to simply accept that informal video is practical. iPOV, through its video transformations, makes the process very convenient and forgiving. Our Flash enhancements can make any video look more impressive and well crafted. Our ability to restate your words mean that you don't have to do multiple takes if you stumble over a few words. Our ability to extract and repackage can salvage valuable knowledge from even the worst video clip.

Inexpensive Video Capture Tools

Most of the video clips on this website and in iPOV's various demonstration sites were recorded with very inexpensive equipment. These are three frequently used tools:

  • Screen Capture Movie (Screencasting) Software - This class of software is installed in a PC and set to run in the background. It records a movie of everything that occurs on the computer screen and any commentary that is provided through a microphone. iPOV has had good success with two products, BBFlashback and Camtasia, but new products are emerging constantly.
  • Hard Drive Camcorders - This new category of camera is incredibly convenient. Priced in the $500 to $1000 range, they can record many hours of high quality video on their hard drives. The video can be compressed and uploaded or transferred to DVD for shipping. On a tripod, these make excellent movies in an office or plant setting. If you consider purchasing one, however, please ask us for some guidelines. There are a few minor mysteries that can make a difference.
  • Solid State Camcorders - These are brand new. A $100 camera (e.g., RCA EZ207) can record 2 to 4 hours of decent video and fit in a shirt pocket. They store the video on 2GB SD chips, so you can quickly swap in more capacity. iPOV has been using these more frequently and we expect that there will soon be a flood of new models in this category.

The bottom line is that inexpensive new technology and iPOV's ability to salvage good knowledge from mediocre video mean that anyone can use video to capture knowledge for eLearning or technical documentation. iPOV's post-processing transformations will allow you to concentrate on making the capture sessions fun, informal and productive. All you have to do is follow some very simple guidelines that iPOV is happy to share - just give us a call.