CompuServe Thread

I am in a similar position as yourself. I have a software company that markets natural gas software and am constantly looking at how we can use desktop video within the package and in the online help, demonstrations, training, etc. To date we have sucessfully created a demonstration promotional presentation with Microsoft PowerPoint. Obviously it is fairly limited in its abilities to interact with users but it does well when running through a timed presentation with video and audio imbedded in it. The key thing is it is very easy to use, cheap and it allows you to place a bitmap of your software screens on a slide and then embed video and audio around it. It is not designed for this but it does the job. We have also created our online help with embedded video and audio in it. The help can be given on a CD which has the room for the video files. We have also used a video to NTSC converter to create a VHS tape of a demonstration of our software. It is obviously the most portable because the potential clients do not need to have anything but a VCR to play it back. All the production of video and audio is done on the PC. I then record the video to a Super VHS machine (for quality) and then dub it with the audio to a regular VHS player. The quality is much less then the original video but it gets the point across professionally and consistently. We are also creating internal staff and product training videos the same way now. We are now starting a pilot where we will actually be using "live" video in the software between companies selling natural gas to each other. If I can help at all let me know and I will give you my phone number. I am constantly looking for better video tools and new ideas, and most importantly, other people in the same frustrating boat as myself. There is definitely a price to be paid for taking advantage of early technology. I have yet to find something that can combine recorded video with animation and sound and interaction and be inexpensive and easy to use. By the way, all our videos are created with only the Video for Windows tools and are kept in AVI format. I'm not sure I agree with your assessment of portables not being capable of video. I am writing this on my video production machine which is a 3 pound 486-66 with an active matrix screen. It has a built in sound card and is a very capable demonstration machine. Pat.