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Creating Multimedia Software Manuals

Creating Multimedia Software Manuals. Bob Bergland Missouri Western State College STC Region 6 Conference Oct. 4, 1999 6 Presentation. Multimedia includes. Sound Video Animations Hypertext Graphics. Types of Multimedia. • Presentations • Web • CD-ROM • VHS Tape/TV.

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Creating Multimedia Software Manuals

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  1. Creating MultimediaSoftware Manuals Bob Bergland Missouri Western State College STC Region 6 Conference Oct. 4, 19996 Presentation

  2. Multimedia includes • Sound • Video • Animations • Hypertext • Graphics

  3. Types of Multimedia • Presentations • Web • CD-ROM • VHS Tape/TV

  4. Multimedia can be used for... • Oral presentations • Product promotions • Product demonstrations • Training • Online/CD-ROM Documentation/manuals

  5. Multimedia Software Manuals • Can help increase user’s liklihood of becoming informed • Supplement--not replace--existing hard copy and online manuals • Total quality documentation package can reduce tech support costs • More positive user experience= greater sales • Multimedia manual can be used as promotional tool

  6. Two current examples • FrameMaker overview/documentation QT movie • CD-ROM based • Promo/demo/instruction purposes • Livemanuals.com website • Web based • Instruction purpose • Goal to reduce tech support in a commercial electronics industry which spends $800 million+ per year in support

  7. MM Factors to consider • Timeline • Working prototype of product needed? (prototype to production timeframe) • Production time • Scheduling contract work time • Editing/Review time • Reproduction time

  8. Factors to consider before using MM • Cost • In-house personnel time • Contract personnel costs • Hardware/software • Production costs • Distribution costs • Configuration shown: 100mhz 603e PowerPC laptop, 16 mb RAM, 50 mb HD, Macromedia Director 6.0 Hardware circa 1995-6, Software 1997

  9. Factors to consider before using MM • Customer compatibility • Platform concerns • Hardware capability (processor, RAM/disk space, sound card, CD-ROM, WWW connection) • Software compatibility

  10. Factors to consider before using MM • Will this MM manual really help users? • Given the cost/time constraints, will your production quality be high enough to represent your company well? • Will you be able to update this multimedia project easily?

  11. Types of Multimedia • Web Advantages • Quick distribution time • Cheaper and quicker updates • Less quality expected • Web Disadvantages • Download times • Broadcast quality • Server space/limitations on capabilities/time

  12. Types of Multimedia • CD-ROM Advantages • Better quality • Low download times • More capabilties • CD-ROM Disadvantages • Cost & Reproduction time • Updating • Space considerations (DVD)

  13. Rewards of Using Multimedia • Can present information in the most efficient, easy-to-understand manner • Fun for user--increases chance of use • Impresses client

  14. Acknowledgements Hardware/software provided through MWSC Funding for Results Program

  15. Available on PDF (after Sun.) www.mwsc.edu/~bergland/multimedia.html bergland@griffon.mwsc.edu

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