                            Lotus Screen Cam
                       Reviewed by Tony  Taglieri
 
    When a software package arrives at my doorstep, I can be found
ripping it open removing the disks and heading for the computer to see
what new marvels have been invented in the past few months. Much to my
usual predictability, when Lotus ScreenCam happened across my path I
immediately looked at the box, saw that it had something to do with
recording Windows actions thus proceeded to do my typical virus scan
then install routine. To be honest, I had little idea what to expect
with this product. My initial response was that it would be a super
charged Windows Recorder type program.
    Not being one to let the docs slow me down, I first try to use the
program then try to figure out what it is supposed to do. Actually, I
find that this is also a good test for user friendliness. I ascertain
that if I can figure out how to get something out of it without opening
the manual or even quick start leaflet and without swearing more than
twice, then surely most computer users will be able to get this thing
running with the directions.
    I quickly found out that ScreenCam is indeed not an enhanced macro
recorder but rather a "VCR" for your PC. The program does basically only
two things but does them relatively well... when they work. Two things
you ask?  Well, it records your video and/or audio. Big deal, right?
Actually it is really pretty neat!  It reminds me of a product I saw a
few years back at a friend's house that enabled the recording of screen
actions and voice recordings through a special phone that would act as a
video/voice l system. That particular system did what this does, but
required a special operating system, telephone equipment and pen tablet.
ScreenCam depicts the epitome of an open system design in that it does
what that system did plus MORE with regular industry standard
DOS/Windows based systems. The only requirement is that you do need a
sound card to record and play back voice.
    The recording is straight forward and simple. You simply start the
recording by clicking an icon then hitting the record button. A small
stop button appears in the lower left-hand corner of the screen and you
go about your business, opening applications, processing images or
crunching around spreadsheets while talking into your microphone to the
audience that will be watching your presentation. When you are through,
hitting the stop button will end the recording.
    Playback is done by simply pressing the play button. After watching
your demo, if you are satisfied with it, you can save it in the .SCM
format to be played back by the Player supplied with ScreenCam or as a
stand alone .EXE file. That's right -- you can pass a single ..EXE to a
colleague, friend or user and they can play it with no special software.
A REAL self running demo that also features a fast forward button so you
can skip the junk you don't want to be bored by. There is also OLE
support so you incorporate the presentation in a document.
    The usefulness  for Demos Training It is very evident as soon as you
see the results.
    But alas nothing is perfect. My Trident Local Bus video card drivers
caused a GPF until I tracked down the video driver as the culprit and
switched to the generic Microsoft SVGA driver. The videos are not
editable after you create them, and the STOP button is in actually
recorded in the screen captures - it is displayed, but is not available
during playback.
    The only other problem is that the screen does not resize to the
recorded size. When it records at 800x600 it will only show the upper
left part of the screen if played back at 640x480 resolution.
    All things considered, this is a rare piece of software that does
its job well.
  
                     Lotus Development Corporation
                         Lois, Paul, & Partners
                           70 Westview Street
                          Lexington, MA 02173
                             (617) 862-4514

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