Cloud Computing in Plain English
Almost three years ago, Lee and Sachi LeFever created their first video to explain RSS.
They called the video RSS in Plain English. They used paper cut outs to explain the XML format. It became an instant hit. Tens of thousands of people watched it. Today their company, Common Craft, make all sorts of custom videos. They've built a business around explaining concepts.
Their latest video explains cloud computing.
"Cloud Computing in Plain English," tells the story of a florist whose business grows. She learns about cloud computing and realizes that perhaps maybe she should not have to worry about fixing broken servers.
Cloud computing is one of those topics that confuses and confounds people. Larry Ellison loves to poke at it. It's the hot topic so it is refreshing to see Lee once again explain the topic in simple terms that pretty much anyone can understand. It makes everyone's job a bit simpler.
Which takes us to the last point of the day. We get so many pitches from companies. The services are explained in terms that often need deciphering. What if more companies in the enterprise space spent more time explaining what they do? What if companies did something like what Common Craft did for Twitter or with Google to help explain Google Docs?
We covered indicee yesterday. Why? We think their product looks pretty valuable. But you know what set them apart? They made a great video. It was compelling to watch. It made us laugh. We started to think about what they do. Pretty soon we were writing about them!
Here's a challenge. Make a video about what your enterprise software does. Show us a page with all sorts of ways we can learn what you are all about. If it really does explain what you do then that will deserve some mention here. Just leave a comment pointing to where we can see what you've done and we'll get back to you. Promise.
Update: We will wait a few more days for videos to come in. Thanks to all who have commented about the videos they have made. We will post next week. :)
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Very good suggestion. I'm currently in the process of doing exactly this.
I watched the RSS in plain English video the other day and it was a huge AHA moment for me! You are so right, there are a lot of tools that need to be explained in plain English, and not just enterprise solutions. It took me 4 months to understand how to use StumbleUpon and I keep wondering, why don't they just post a video explaining how it works and how it can benefit people right on the homepage.
I will certainly stop back here to see how many are responding to your challenge.
Thanks for the post.
@Ileane
Just get online today and you will see what is all about, they have the most beautiful stuff that you have ever seen, check it out, you won´t regret it.
Okay guys... You really didn't explain what clouds are...
I mean you explained how it works and how it will make things easier but still not really explaining what clouds are...
Great Explanation!
Thank you!
@mjamme
Hi,
I read your challenge with interest and attached is a response I prepared earlier.
I'm building an accommodation network and whilst the site has not launched, the blog does reveal what the site is about.
Here's a link to the Blog text and video:
http://myfriendshotel.com/blog/resources/a-world-of-travel/myfriendshotelcom-whats-it-all-about/
I hope it makes the grade!
Cheers,
Pete
ps: I made the video myself. It is my first and only animation and I used my home scanner to scan in the drawings. I felt I could draw the characters myself as it made the animation more personal and honest which in-turn reinforced the brand values.
I then learnt Flash, which it's really very easy if you have the patients. I had a rough plan for the drawings but as the animation came alive I needed to resourcefully reused a lot of the images to save time and effort. Music came from sound bites taken from the web and garage band. Voice over was recorded on my video camera.
I then had to edit the finished video (Final Cut) from about 3 minutes to 1.5 minutes to make it more compelling without compromising the message.
NB: I just thought this additional information might be useful to inspire someone else to give it a go!
Peter... wow... nice, nice work. You've obviously put your heart into your business. Like the extra info in your second comment above. I was wondering what you used to put it together. Thanks.
Simplifying one's business model and message so that value is clear is very, very difficult. It's even harder to then put that message out in a manner which entertains and holds attention. Again.. nice work. (Sorry though.. I'm just a RWW reader.)
The Common Craft Cloud Computing explanation really does start from the ground up. And, I'm glad it does not get overly technical about "what a cloud really is." Really though, the video points out the benefit of the principal of outsourcing and then relates that to the IT of a growing business. That is the basic benefit of Cloud Computer, IMO.
Maybe that would have been a better title? I don't know. But the message is still solid...as Common Craft usually is.
Excellent work, Peter! You made the cut. We will see how many others respond and then post your video. Great job in explaining "My Friends Hotel."
Excellent work, Peter! You made the cut. We will see how many others respond and then post your video. Great job in explaining "My Friends Hotel."
How about this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWjLdeLfE2Q
I know the guys at Indicee, and they inspired me to make a video on what we do here at Allocadia. I tried to do that 'in plain language story'. The video is on our homepage at www.allocadia.com - I did it on my own in Keynote & Screenflow but hey I think it works - but you tell me what you think! (maybe I should add some fun/funny stuff...)
I've never used the expression before but, I'm stoked! Somehow that's the right sentiment.
The video was fun but hard work and it's received little attention so I'm really chuffed you like it. Thanks. Pete
(For those of you in the dark about 'stoked' here's an explanation: http://tinyurl.com/s72nr)
Hey, have you already checked out the simpleshow? The clips have not only a high visual quality but are lovely enhanced with nice music and funny sound design!
http://www.simpleshow.de/en/
Most of the clips are in German, but you can also find some English Versions at the address above. Just browse through the clips in the upper right corner or visit the simpleshow on youtube:
www.youtube.com/thesimpleshow
Common Craft videos are perfect for South African education
cloud is similar as IT, i see two main values:
1. in infrastructure.
2. Biz intelligence.
while 1 is easy and explained clear in the video, 2 is always hard for one cloud to meet huge different biz needs in such dynamic world.
Nice videos.
Wake up and Smell the Coffee...
The company I work for (Spiceworks) made a video to explain a new feature in our software for IT Professionals. As you've said in the blog the challenge is to make it easy to understand while being fun to watch. I think we pulled it off in this video - I think you will too.
http://www.spiceworks.com/tv/?cat=training&video=tickets-anywhere
vry nice video thx you
You can check out our video here: http://www.fengoffice.com/web/tour.php
Take a look and feel free to comment about it.
Thanks!