Resource Review 2 - Jing Blog

Jing's website, www.jingproject.com, also features a blog:

http://blog.jingproject.com/

The blog discusses all Jing-related topics, and features video clips of the different ways in which people have used Jing. One of the recent posts includes a handy downloadable PDF introducing the software and how to use it properly:

http://blog.jingproject.com/2009/08/welcome-to-jing---a-guide-to-t.html

Entries are written mostly by company officials, but they do encourage people to contact them with ideas for new uses. The blog aims to collaborate among company officials and users to make Jing better and promote usage. It seems to be a great way to troubleshoot the program and find out more information about it in general. New entries are posted once every few days, and involve a variety of topics. Although Jing is free, it is interesting that the company has made such an effort to reach users and promote this product. Perhaps this is because Jing is created by TechSmith, a larger company responsible for more advanced and expensive programs like SnagIt and Camtasia. In a way, Jing is sort of a gateway for users to begin experimenting with these types of software and perhaps find the need for more features through other programs in the future.

Resource Review 1 - Jing vs. Other Screen Capturing Software

I happened upon this article about options for libraries in screen capturing software:

Rethlefsen, M. L. (2009). Screencast like a pro. Library Journal, 134(7), 62-63.

The article compares four different subscription-based programs, including JingPro. Although Jing does not rate the highest in terms of features and usability, it is the one of the most cost-efficient at a price of $14.95 per year. Other programs such as Adobe Captivate 4 and Camtasia Studio 6 are highly rated, but cost hundreds of dollars to purchase. For smaller libraries with smaller budgets, these more expensive types of software may not be ideal.

Topic - Jing

My research review topic is Jing, a screen capturing software which allows one to create short videos of what occurs on your computer screen. These videos are often used as instructional tools in the library setting, especially within e-reference.

Currently, Jing is available in two forms:

1) A free download with minimal features.
2) JingPro - For purchase ($14.95 per year) with extended features.

I plan on exploring some of the pros and cons of this digital tool in both forms. I'm also interested in how tools such as Jing have shaped virtual reference services and what the future of these services may look like.