Video Guidelines: Re: [Stoves] (no subject)

[Kevin Chisholm]

Dear Tom
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Miles" <tmiles at trmiles.com>
To: "'Kevin Chisholm'" <kchisholm at ca.inter.net>; <STOVES at LISTSERV.REPP.ORG>
Cc: "'ethos'" <ethos at vrac.iastate.edu>
Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 1:40 AM
Subject: RE: [Stoves] (no subject)


> Kevin,
>
> No, you hit most of the bases, I'm sure that Dean will fill in the missing
> pieces.

Thanks for the feedback
>
> The real accomplishment here is "On-Demand Stove Testing," having a
> production showing gas analysis matched with video. The productions are
> bound to get better.

I have a modem connection, and the Download took about 90 minutes. I had 
another task that took me away from the computer, so this download was not a 
problem. If I was otherwise busy at the time, I would not have downloaded 
it. While I am fortunate to have unlimited access, at no extra cost, some 
Listers have to pay per minute for downloads. I have a 56 kb Modem that 
operates between 2.8 and 30 kb because of poor quality phone lines. There 
may be others that share my fate.

Is it possible to present some guidelines for presentation of videos to the 
List? Merely because the tool is there, doesn't mean that it should be used. 
On the other hand, "A Video can be worth 1,000 pictures." Following are some 
suggestions for consideration:

1: Videos should present information that represents a significant advance 
or "information transfer" over what could be conveyed by picture or text 
alone. The Video Presenter should answer the following "Guideline Questions" 
and get a "Yes Answer" before submitting the Video:
    A: Will the Viewer be better off, if I submit this video?
    B: Will the Viewer be worse off if I don't present this Video?
    C: Does the Video answer more questions than it raises?
    D: Is the Viewer likely to get a significant benefit from this video?
    E: Is it possible to re-make the Video without sound, to reduce file 
size?

2: In consideration for those who have slow connections, every effort should 
be made to edit the video so that it clearly shows the information which the 
Author wishes to convey.

3: In the manner that photos can be "shrunk" for posting to the internet, it 
it possible to present a "shrunk version" or a "Thumbnail" of the Video? In 
that manner, the Viewer could decide if it was worthwhile for him(her) to 
spend the time (and possibly money) to download it.

4: I understand that the addition of sound adds significantly or 
tremendously to the length of a Video. Is it possible for those submitting 
the video to submit two files seperately ... Video and Sound... so that the 
viewer could download the Video only, and if it was valuable to him (her), 
then they could download the sound portion?

5: Promotional videos which benefit the Presenter more than the Viewer 
should be discouraged, OR, perhaps a fee could be charged to help support 
the List. As bad as Spam Mail is, Spam Videos would be far worse.

6: Text or labels should be used in the Video where possible. This could 
significantly improve on "Information Transfer", help make the video 
shorter, and help with language barrier considerations.
>
> I hope that we see other stoves organizations around the world producing
> videos. Lutfiyah (PCIA) is taking her camera to Bangladesh. Who else is
> getting into production? Is there a camera on board the Bond Research
> Arachne or the UCB Monitor?
>
> We've seen some great TV pieces in the last year on Trees Water and People
> and AHDESA (Honduras) and the Hughes Stove Team (Guatemala). HELPS
> (Guatemala) and ARTI (India) have also had good videos.

Competently made and appropriate Videos can be tremendously helpful, but if 
they aren't, they will be worse than than junk mail.

Best wishes,

Kevin
>
> Tom
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kevin Chisholm [mailto:kchisholm at ca.inter.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 8:45 PM
> To: Tom Miles; STOVES at LISTSERV.REPP.ORG
> Cc: 'ethos'
> Subject: Re: [Stoves] (no subject)
>
>
>>Am I missing something?
>
>
>