Screencast

The term "screencast" was coined by John Udell in 2004 to describe a digital recording of a computer screen's output, often accompanied by an audio narrative. It has become a popular method for teaching or demonstrating the use of computer software, as well as video 'tours' of websites. Screencasts are also used in corporate and classroom environments to capture PowerPoint presentations, with accompanying narrative.

Special software is required to capture screen activity, edit the results, add audio narrative and music, etc., and the most capable of these, currently, is a program called "Camtasia," by TechSmith Corporation.  Although Camtasia requires Windows, a similar application for the Mac called "Screenflow," from Telestream, Inc., has been drawing rave reviews. 

TechSmith saw that screencasts, as well as being useful to software developers and marketers, could have a role as well for users who want to capture the context of a software bug, to receive support, or to send simple visual communications to each other. They created another software application, called "Jing," which targets these uses.  Although less capable than Camtasia, it is currently free.

YouTube and other web-based video distribution sites now host thousands of examples of gamers and other software users giving each other tips and tricks via screencast, giving ample evidence that this medium has a healthy future.

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Headsets