Push it to the limit awwww yeah! Time to go for a ride…
Like I promised earlier, more details on what's been happening with my communications at Linden Lab, specifically concerning Resident aka Community Enlightenment and Video Tutorials.
Robin Linden posted "Linden Lab Blog Changes to Give Residents More Choices", and Katt's been pointing people that way too. Read it, and particularly give your attention to this:
The new blog will have multiple categories to allow topic experts to talk about their areas of expertise and to promote discussion and Resident feedback and ideas. Large topics will integrate with the forums, as we’ve done recently, to allow for richer and more involved conversation with Linden Lab and Residents than is possible in blog comments.
Cool yes?
When that happens, I'll be one of the "topic experts". I won't necessarily be following up in the forums (keep reading). As we've seen in the "How to report abuse" with GTeam video, I'll be collaborating with fellow domain gurus to bring you useful + fun knowledge in a way I earnestly hope is more focused and frequent than what we've had before. Tentatively, this includes laser-beaming with our Documentation Team.
Mini-self-constructed-FAQ follows, ask me in the comments for further followup…
Aren't you in a dead end now?
No. Please read the above again. One door closes, another window(s) opens. Or maybe you learn how to build some new doors OK!
Patience! All things in good time! [Insert more cliches!]
What does this mean for the future of video tutorials?
Vidtuts have always been about helping Resis:
- Solve problems!
- Smooth difficulties!
- Simplify technical concepts!
- Spark your inspiration to create!
Good stuff, or better than that. Effective immediately, I'm putting Video Tip of the Week in deep freeze (Han Solo carbonite-ish) because out-of-context and not being posted on the Second Life Blog, it doesn't make so much sense to do it weekly. Plus, I have new priorities to nail. I'm sorry if this causes a disturbance in the Force and inconveniences your expectations.
But I'll still be making videos to support my colleagues' fine projects. Not just tutorials, but promos. And I'm looking for other ways to get the word out, since as distinguished sources like Smashing Magazine have made clear, the global hunger for video-education will continue to grow and I want to be the best for Linden Lab to help our Residents, and in a less abstract sense, you.
Again, I really look forward to posting on "the new blog", and will be relieved to cross that chasm and embrace new sunshines (of which Tatooine has… 2!).
And let's not forget other tools.
Other tools?
Yes. Resident Enlightenment isn't just about video. It's about spreading knowledge for greater understanding. It means being intuitive and sensitive to your everyday problems and helping smooth, solve them. There's both a hardcore logic and flowing artistry to it across multiple mediums.
Expect me to continue my wiki activities, because the thing is darn underrated! I'll support the endeavors of scribes — hats off to Zai Lynch, Gally Young, and other contributors for the Help Portal. I trumpet that kind of stuff because it can help so many more ease up, y'know?
What's this I heard about Showcase?
Srsly, relates to the very valid complaint that video tutorials are so many and so hard to find.
More details to come on this too. Working with a great, tight team (incl. Pastrami Linden of WindLight fame) on this. I'll share with you when it's ready, but if you've read my past posts critiquing the current state of video tutorials (beyond Second Life), you'll not only understand, your heart will thump in unison with mine.
No, it's not meant to be OMG FLASH BANG BOOM. It's everyday useful, casually exciting. Geddit?
What's these subtle "hints" you've been dropping?
Aw c'mon. I'm not going to give away the whole goods, but I'm not messin' with ya. But to give you a watermelon slice to snack on: it means I'll be focusing more on the inworld experience, including Here island.
Practical examples of excellent content creation we can enjoy will be couched in a fun, empirical setting. More do-it-yourself wonder to come, keep sending me kewl stuff you make.
I may be moving/expanding my office hours to better accommodate people who want to make it. If you have a strong preference, let me know. I want to do more inworld appearances and talks on creativity + enjoying yourself too. I'm particularly interested in what would help your family & friends find Second Life beneficial.
If you ever need to drop me a line, contact me via the Web tab of my profile aka this webpage. Just about anything about my direct job focuses gets answered. Not only do I listen, I say "Friendly greetings!" back. And then some.
(Don't forget your click actions! 
)
Is neon watermelon going away?
Heck no. I may use more official branding (like the current vidtut titleage), but I won't have less personality. It's what attracts people to me spreading the good cheer o' SL, after all.
Do you think people read too much into what you say, you crazy diamond*?
Some things, yes. But remember what I said about folding ideas sideways?
Like Karl Lagerfield, I do not take myself too seriously.
However, I do take your happiness seriously.
It's my job, and I <3 it.
* Mandatory PF reference.
WAIT MR. ENTHUSIASM! How do you know video tutorials are worth doing?
Quick facts. With over 220 vids made:
- 3+ million YouTube views, and newly over 100,000+ on blip.tv
- Survey of 44,000+ Residents showed 51% have viewed video tutorials. Only 12% don't know they exist. And I got 100s of suggestions on how they've been helpful and what to do next. ("Building" was very popular.)
- 1,000s of positive praise messages (IM, email, comments)… my gosh, the drownation is glorious. This helps because I can show my bosses, match them with metrics, and demonstrate value. I have great appreciation when you let me know I've been helpful. Like I say, "I amplify your awesome."
Cue the obligatory/obvious "I know they're not for everyone". But insofar as bang-for-buck and use of my time & energy, they keep reaping greater rewards for the company and the communities.
My main disappointment? Finding out when videos aren't getting to people who could use them. I get messages from new Resis saying, "I wish I knew about the videos when I signed up!" So a big thrust is going to be connecting that more fluidly, working with others, without being over-intrusive. I may be a ham, but I don't wanna spam. (Permission marketing…)
And of course if you heard of Second Life through me, wellll I'd hope you know about the vidtuts + my enlightenment.
So I'll keep at it.
What else?
Since 2006, I've grown from an antsy dabbler to a concentrated and prolific (as M Linden sez) creator of video tutorials/screencasting. Not only am I now recognized as a pioneer and leader in the field, it means I need to reach out beyond Second Life and learn from the best teachers in the world to keep growing.
Many companies, from the makers of Modo to Google SketchUp, are touting the preciousness of how videos don't just tell, they show. And more than technique, there's philosophy, there's a tapestry of craft —
take Adobe TV, for example. They kick ass in synonymizing their company branding/image with creative excellence. One of their magnates, Russell Brown, is a zany creative genius. If a man like him can rock the world at 6,600+-employee strong Adobe, you can bet I'll be continuing to follow his example on how to do things right, fusing it with what we have at Linden Lab. As we grow the platform. As we increase platform stability, improve the mainland, squash bugs, etc.
I'll be reporting on those journeys as they happen — as I have for the last, well, since I started my Second Life on September 15, 2004.
Thanx for being with me. Keep coming back for more!
P.S. Be not afraid of these changes. Paul Atreides was right: fear is the mindkiller!
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
I really liked that video Torley. Thats what SL is to me, just casual screwing around having fun messing with your world around you, and most importantly doing it with people you care about.
Torley.
First you say this:
" * 3+ million YouTube views, and newly over 100,000+ on blip.tv
* Survey of 44,000+ Residents showed 51% have viewed video tutorials. Only 12% don't know they exist. And I got 100s of suggestions on how they've been helpful and what to do next. ("Building" was very popular.)
* 1,000s of positive praise messages (IM, email, comments)… my gosh, the drownation is glorious. This helps because I can show my bosses, match them with metrics, and demonstrate value. I have great appreciation when you let me know I've been helpful. Like I say, "I amplify your awesome."
Thats all great evidence about the power and effectiveness of the vidtuts….
But then you say this:
"Effective immediately, I'm putting Video Tip of the Week in deep freeze (Han Solo carbonite-ish) because out-of-context and not being posted on the Second Life Blog, it doesn't make so much sense to do it weekly. "
The two are incompatible unless you have been ordered to stop producing them and they have been banned from the official blog. If that is the case, LL and your good self, should be bold enough, brave enough and honest enough to say so. You will be only too aware the blogs are alight with rumors of a gagging order. I really do think residents deserve to know the truth and an explanation of the thinking behind it.
The spice must flow! …you rock Torley. Thanks for all you do!
Hmmm… "Still Concerned" has a point.
@Dante: Exactly, you totally get it. That's why I share those parts of my Second Life.
@Still Concerned: Wish I know who you really are!
*NO ONE* at Linden Lab has told me to STOP making videos.
(That would truely be absurd and full of, to cop Don King, ridiculousity.)
I've seen a lot of wacky speculation, yes. And I appreciate the caring…
First and foremost re: blog plans, ask in this thread: http://forums.secondlife.com/showthread.php?p=2125965 and Robin and Katt shall have a look.
Until we have a "new blog", as we've already seen happening in recent weeks, the Second Life Blog is reserved for the most important posts, meaning things like major feature announcements, big policy changes, and insights from our executives. WHY???? To reduce public confusion (supporting what Robin said in "Limitations…"), particularly for those who are new/never heard of SL. The sense that makes has never been a secret, as many Resis have requested these kinds of improvements (as many historical blog comments have shown).
So are videos (and me) banned from the blog? NO!!!! How can I be banned when I'll be blogging again, just not yet? The particular case of the "Video Tip of the Week" was deemed not high-priority enough for what we need to do now, but there'll still be videos posted with things like… Mono when that's all rolled out, and likely "What's new in 1.21" going forward.
It's really dependent on "What project/messaging is this video supporting?" and I've always amplified the awesome of fellow Lindens & Residents.
And like I said before, I'll be expanding presence in the Showcase and wiki on the road to me blogging again — aye, as I've mentioned, I wish it was a smoother transition… that's the DJ in me. There's also some things I'm working on with other teams and Resis to get videos more visible inworld (and not just @ Here).
I'm hopeful things'll work out well, as they did when we first got the current (to-be old) blog and I later started TotW. I didn't get asked about why I decided to start that series, but it's nice people think it's worth paying attention to as it pauses.
In a melon rind: I will certainly keep making videos, but will publish them on a non-weekly schedule, which could be more frequent than that, or less — depending on what I'm doing.
If I didn't answer something directly or go into the depth desired, it's because:
(1) I don't know or
(2) I can't talk about it because it's private company business (obvious, but people who prod with various intentions need to be reminded of my status as an employee of Linden Lab). And like many instances we've seen before,
(3) I can't talk about YET but when the time comes, I gladly will. E.g., I had knowledge of WindLight/InterOp/Voice Chat/etc. weeks in advance of their public debut, but as excited as I get about my colleagues' work, I don't spill secrets or spoil the announcement. Perfectly understandable.
Philosophically: there's magic in mystery and at the same time, I do share a lot of knowhow. It's a dynamic balance. As a video tutorial maker far wiser than I told me: "Be as creative as you possibly can and have as much fun as you can doing it."
Does that clarify things? Still concerned, Still Concerned?
@Sahoni: Thanxarama!
Torley,
Thanks for the prompt and honest reply. Its nice to hear it directly from you, rather than from those of us who speculate wildly in the absence of concrete information.
It clarifies a lot and I can take off my concerned hat now!
Many Thanks
@Still ("Formerly Concerned?"
): You're most graciously welcome!
Torley vids banned? from anywhere? Now that made me laugh right out loud!
You keep right on doing the fantastic job you are doing Torley.
Torley, I'm glad to see you'll still be creating videos. You've brought clarity to a few subjects I found dry, boring, parsecs above my head and not worth my time to try in infinite ways to wrap my brain around. Some may think your methods too wacky, but time and time again, it's been that method of "wacky" that helped melt the wall between "I dont get this, I never will" and "omg, NOW I get it!". Not to mention, your style leaves me with a feeling of my dignity intact and confidence to try something, rather than what I've come away from other tutorials feeling like a bonehead and unwilling to try at all. Thank you Torley!
"Until we have a "new blog", as we've already seen happening in recent weeks, the Second Life Blog is reserved for the most important posts, meaning things like major feature announcements, big policy changes, and insights from our executives. WHY????"
WHY???? Why is a very good question. The current blog still exists, still works, and is still referenced by customers of SL®™ for information so why not continue to use it to diseminate information that your customers want and need until such time as the new system is ready? This is reminisent of turning off the BBC code on the forum "temporarily" only to have it never get fixed. LL®™ seems to have its head up its corporate butt when it comes to communications with its customers and I am beginning to feel that will never change.
@Ann: Thanks!
@Phoenixa: This touches my heart, and I remember you sharing that I helped you earlier. I'm really happy you're more confident, because I want to make you feel and do good! I've had many experiences in life where I was banging my head against a proverbial wall, then… intuition. THEN (the best part) sharing my easier answer to something that formerly stumped me.
@Ravanne: What specific info do you crave which isn't being delivered?
Torley just get your bloody vids back on the blog and then direct traffic properly come October.
The biggest problem with grid status reports is directing traffic.
You should have had your own section on the website ages ago!
I'd like to comment that I struggle with the vidtuts because my hearing is not that good. I would appreciate it very much if they could be open-captioned, or a transcript could be published. I know this is harder than it sounds . . . but maybe we could find some way to problem-solve this accessibility issue.
You're most welcome Torley. Truly, if it wasn't for your helpful tips, I'd probably not build anything at all. My heart belongs to the dance, but every great once in a while, I do get a yen now to create a "something", usually to enhance something to do with dance.
Oooh changes in store.
Have you considered placing a screen for your videos (maybe all of them in constant sequence?) on Help island?
…or making "Here" a welcome area?
strange new thoughts.
@Ciaran: Thanks for the support! I'm excited about what's to come.
@Muse: I appreciate you bringing this up. It's an important issue to me too — I've had some leads on providing transcripts more reliably, but they haven't panned out.
@Phoenixa: I'd also like to mention, for the benefit of anyone who hasn't seen it yet, Phoenixa's dance video tutorial resources! http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/User:Phoenixa_Sol
@Pim: Yes, there's been some flux about how we're doing the orientation experience, but I'm definitely on-call if ever needed to provide videos. For that reason, Here being a default welcome area is unlikely but I definitely encourage each & every Resident to visit and indulge their creativity! =D
I think the "How to report abuse" video is going to be added to the Help Islands.