What would you like to see more of with element14 presents?

cstanton said:

I often think that a video with an accompanying blog can work

It very much depends on the content, the production and what the viewer is trying to get out of it. Video is a very linear format so can be a very time consuming format to obtain information from it.

In comparison, with text + pictures, you can usually quickly scan through to the bits you are interested in and then slow down to extract the detail where required. Also you can quickly take a snapshot of the relevant section and file it for later reference. The text format is usually easier to search than video content.

Video however has its strengths in being able to demonstrate stuff that is otherwise difficult to show in text + pictures. It's also hands-free viewing so ideal if you are watching whilst running on the treadmill and don't want to have to constantly be scrolling through a document viewer.

In some respects we appear to be going backwards in technology here by sticking with single frame video format that mimics the  television broadcast format rather than adopting mixed media interfaces to get the best of both worlds. Early 2000's and there was lots of experimentation going on with synchronised mixed media formats however difficult to give a consistent cross-platform experience.

For me, I think one of the more frustrating aspects is when code is being shown in video. For code you really want to be able to pause the video and be able to quickly scroll back and forth through the relevant parts of the code at your own pace before resuming playback from where you left off.

This also applies to other supplementary information, such as data sheets, 3D models, schematics, etc. as you really want them to be accessible there and then alongside the video so as you can pause and dive in to the relevant information before resuming playback.

From an educational perspective then making more use of linking to related content could also be very useful. If a certain display, sensor, microcontroller, protocol or technique is being used, then being able to follow a link to another tutorial or blog that provides more detailed information on it could enhance the overall experience.

You could also perhaps link this into projects / challenges - you've watched the video, learnt more about the technology; now come up with your own project and blog about it for a chance to win some e14 community swag...

I said projects.  Specifically one that is FPGA based.  I understand that FPGA dev boards are more expensive to produce than micro dev boards... but maybe this can be minimized somewhat by targeting an FPGA with LE counts below 30,000 LEs.

I wanted to do something with fpgas for a while but the thing holding me back it the regirement to learn a HDL and an fpga workflow first  and good enough to pull fo a full project in the limited time I have per video. So its a skill issue on my part. BUT we actually had FPGA videos already liek: community.element14.com/.../program-your-own-fpga-video-game----episode-353

It is true. A video has other strength. Storytelling, showing how to do something. And hopefully also entertainment value.

Some episodes focusing more on 'building blocks' could be quite interesting and also be reusable later as linked contend from other project videos.

Thinking initially more about (but not limited to) microcontroller based stuff here, like creating menu-based user interfaces with 20x2 alphanumeric LCD displays, interfacing with various types of sensors, creating scalable matrix displays, μP-to-μP communications, etc.

Combining hardware + software with an emphasis on good design practice for both.

Episodes could focus on a single device or comparing between multiple devices/methods.

Ideally something that the viewer can take away and incorporate into a new or enhance an existing project of their own.

Could align with upcoming project14 themes e.g. for Halloween/Holiday season there could be content on controlling light and sound, animatronics, sensing and reacting to movement, remote control, and so on, that could be linked to from the project page to widen participation. Could also link in with STEM activities.

I'm in the more projects camp. More small projects and proportionally fewer large projects would be my preference. However educational examples and product reviews are still welcome. It is tough to separate hardware from software these days and generally I prefer projects that are not purely software. Video is often the best way to demonstrate techniques and project operation and projects that need video are often more interesting but schematics and explanations of what can't be seen are often best done with more static media. Not only can text be read faster than it can be narrated, the bits that are not of interest can more easily be skipped.

cstanton You are spot on about the videos.  Dare we delve into the social sciences?    My technicians are accustomed to getting their information through video - so that is the media they choose.  Their expectation is that there is a YouTube video for everything.  As they get more seasoned, they discover the value of the manual - and the schematic.  Still, they watch the videos for the answers to life's questions.

Since I didn't grow up with YouTube, I tend to watch videos for the application or for entertainment - because my video exposure was TV.  If I'm intrigued, I will read the data sheet, application notes, blogs and forums, etc. - because that is how I am used to getting my information.  In my world, I derive the answer to life's questions based on my research and previous knowledge.  Is one better than the next?  Maybe.  Maybe not.

Whether we like it or not, video is ingrained in our culture.  It's another tool in our kit bag and it is the flavor du jour.  If we don't embrace it, we could lose generations of electrical and electronic enthusiasts.

There was a project (Episode 607) that was a horse race game converted into people walking, and the game counted their steps. I want the horse race game without the changes. /challenges-projects/element14-presents/project-videos/w/documents/28198/from-strava-to-motion-creating-an-arduino-powered-arcade-game-with-running-data----episode-607 Lorraine has never replied to any questions. Can you or a member remake this for us? I would love to make this. 

i like the building block approach. sometimes we had to do it that way for example with the charlieplexing video. Surely more of that could work.

kmikemoo said:

My technicians are accustomed to getting their information through video - so that is the media they choose.  Their expectation is that there is a YouTube video for everything

Yep, I find this every time I help someone in a technical discord server that I am in. As soon as you mention anything where you have to follow something step by step, they cannot wrap their head around it and immediately ask "is there a video guide?" or "can you jump into the discord call chat and share your screen and talk me through it?". It's very time consuming of a request.