Ask HN: Demo or Video?

#1

Post by vshlos » Fri, Mar 25, 2011, 2:52 PM UTC

I know dropbox had a lot of success by putting together a video of their idea. I created a demo page, do you think this is as effective? http://oim.ae/chatdemo

Re: Ask HN: Demo or Video?

#2

Post by podman » Fri, Mar 25, 2011, 3:14 PM UTC

I think this might work well for people who like to experiment, but it might not work as well for people who like to passively learn about things. It could be interesting to also create a video demo and then split test the two.

Re: Ask HN: Demo or Video?

#3

Post by cmarshall » Fri, Mar 25, 2011, 3:30 PM UTC

I think part of the reason that dropbox's video works so well is it shows you how dropbox solves a problem, if they just had a technical demo of how their stuff synchronises files then techies would see it and realise how it was useful, but a person on the street probably wouldn't.

I can see where your app would be good, but I'm a developer and I have friends with English as a second language. If you had a video that showed someone catching up with a person they'd met on a holiday in another country or something similar then I think it'd put the problem you're solving in context better than the demo.

Re: Ask HN: Demo or Video?

#4

Post by Geee » Fri, Mar 25, 2011, 4:06 PM UTC

Definitely do a video, it would demonstrate really well what the app does without need of user interaction.

Re: Ask HN: Demo or Video?

#5

Post by gumbo » Fri, Mar 25, 2011, 4:09 PM UTC

I also suggest so. People like video as it is clear and they can see what they can do without much effort.

Re: Ask HN: Demo or Video?

#6

Post by robflynn » Fri, Mar 25, 2011, 5:16 PM UTC

Excellent work on the Russian text input. I was easily able to sound out some russian phrases that I know and input them correctly.

Re: Ask HN: Demo or Video?

#7

Post by vshlos » Fri, Mar 25, 2011, 7:36 PM UTC

robflynn wrote: post #6

Excellent work on the Russian text input. I was easily able to sound out some russian phrases that I know and input them correctly.

I was thinking about making that an open source jQuery plugin. If you would like I can provide it to you. There are a few issues with it right now however. After I fix those issues, I can provide it.

Re: Ask HN: Demo or Video?

#8

Post by vshlos » Fri, Mar 25, 2011, 7:38 PM UTC

cmarshall wrote: post #3

I think part of the reason that dropbox's video works so well is it shows you how dropbox solves a problem, if they just had a technical demo of how their stuff synchronises files then techies would see it and realise how it was useful, but a person on the street probably wouldn't. I can see where your app would be good, but I'm a developer and I have friends with English as a second language. If you had a video that…

I like that idea of doing a video, but instead of showing what are the different features of the application, show the problems this solves. Thank you!

Re: Ask HN: Demo or Video?

#9

Post by vshlos » Fri, Mar 25, 2011, 7:38 PM UTC

podman wrote: post #2

I think this might work well for people who like to experiment, but it might not work as well for people who like to passively learn about things. It could be interesting to also create a video demo and then split test the two.

I will try this! thanks!

Re: Ask HN: Demo or Video?

#10

Post by T2P » Fri, Mar 25, 2011, 7:40 PM UTC

Instead of settling for one or the other, you could write some jQuery that interacts with the forms using some predefined dialogue. Maybe have a half-dozen of these scripts made that rotate when the script runs out or the user reloads. Possibly add some humor in these scripts? just to get the user to watch the show a bit longer. When the user clicks in the chat, maybe relinquish control from the javascript to the human so they can test drive it.

FWIW, I think it's neat. But for some reason, my brain acted like a deer in the headlights when I saw the two chat boxes side by side like that.