Being able to understand a complex technology is one thing. Communicating it in a simple, understandable way is another. When done well, it is a form of magic.
There is an enduring and growing breed of content creators in the technology space doing this type of work today, and doing it exceedingly well. Their medium of choice is video and you see it playing out at all scales on platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn.
Grant Black is the Director of Technology for St. Tammany Parish, a local government jurisdiction in southeast Louisiana. There are nearly 275,000 citizens in St. Tammany Parish, many of whom live near Lake Pontchartrain and within the New Orleans metropolitan area.
Black makes video content on LinkedIn to communicate emerging technology news and cybersecurity threats to the citizens of St. Tammany Parish, such as this recent video about threats that may be hiding in QR codes:
Marques Brownlee, meanwhile, uses YouTube to reach an international audience. Brownlee started his channel in 2008 and created more than 1,600 videos to date.
With nearly 19 million subscribers and more than 4 billion views, Brownlee uses his YouTube channel to review new tech gadgets and gear. He also does an excellent job of explaining emerging technologies in approachable detail, like this primer on the Tesla solar roof:
As far as content creation goes, writing is still where I gravitate in terms of communication. I’ve only dabbled in the video space on my own channel, mostly for demonstrating map-making or processes and procedures with technology for the office.
The discomfort of being on video is at least good practice if not enjoyable.
That being said, I am a huge supporter — and consumer — of video content, and I suspect many of you are as well. You may not be comfortable being in front of the camera, but, given the quality of both content and communication, it is easy to celebrate and appreciate those who are.