In the final week of the Camtasia test drive, Lauren Colton, Information Architect and Editor at Gravity Works Design & Development, reflected back on their month of screencasting.

What are some of the lessons learned during this test drive?
Our team enjoyed the chance to use and give feedback on Camtasia for Mac software. I learned about the benefits of having a longer recording time than with Jing, and I could add an extra bit of polish in client tutorials and documentation.

Usable, efficient software fits the needs of intended audiences. Gravity Works loves the challenge of pulling complex business rules from systems of disorganized data, recently working in partnership with the Michigan Public Health Institute and the Michigan Department of Community Health on an internal case management system. We built the system to track independently-living, elderly people, as well as MDCH funding for nonprofits that care for these community members. Extreme caution with sensitive information guided the creation of this web-based application. Our solution increased stakeholder-estimated productivity by two man-hours per case, saving taxpayer dollars on a statewide level.

Our custom development work has given us more first-hand experience of how great stakeholder communication is the basis of great solutions. Dave Smith, Director of Business Development for Gravity Works, has said that screencasting is fun, and it is easy to get caught up using fun tools as a solution to problems that aren’t there (like a five minute video when a sentence would do). But screencapture is certainly an important communication tool.

Every person in the office uses USB-connected monitors, for the extra screen real estate. So moving forward, I do not personally expect to invest time (in tutorials) or money (for a more-advanced microphone) until the software can run in my preferred environment, which includes USB-connected monitors.

Andrea Poole is a customer content specialist at TechSmith. She enjoys singing and playing the ukulele, a cappella music, running, and a good game of Euchre. Tweet her up @andiepoole or put her in a Google+ Circle.