It's always interesting to see how different generations deal with technology. I am that stage in life where my home is often overtaken by teenagers, those in their early to mid-teens. What's interesting is how they communicate technical information to their peers.
“Let's Play” videos
Computer games play a big part in their lives. I'll come downstairs most Saturday mornings to hear a “Let's Play” video on YouTube running. Let's Play videos are a mixture of (often sweary) commentary, review, tutorial, and guided tour of a computer game.
These user-generated videos are very popular. Indeed, creating these is the main hobby for one school friend of my son. That's right, his hobby is essentially creating User Assistance.
Let's Play videos have become so popular that Nintendo recently saw them as a revenue generating opportunity.
According to ReadWriteWeb:
Some of these commentators reach millions of subscribers, and many support themselves in full or in part by running ads against their videos…. This, apparently, Nintendo could not let stand. So last week, the game company began making mass copyright claims on YouTube gameplay videos—in particular, on the the popular “Let's Play” series of playthrough videos. Nintendo did so via YouTube's “Content ID” system, which allows the company to robo-claim ownership of videos that contain footage of its video games.
Nintendo isn't trying to take down the commentary videos. But by asserting copyright, the game company can then run its own ads against the commentaries—and thus, of course, deprive the video creators of revenue.
Knowing the rules of the game
These teenagers are also dedicated players of the Warhammer table role playing games. In a Warhammer game, each player collects (and paints) an army of miniatures and then, using a Warhammer rulebook as a guideline, fights “epic battles against their fellow generals.”
The better a player knows the rules of the game, the more likely they are to win. The rulebooks (also known as a codex), each costing £30 each, are so popular that roughly half of the stores' shelves are dedicated to these books.
It's strange seeing a group of teenage boys reading user manuals cover to cover, but this knowledge gives them the edge over other players.
“The most literate generation ever”
I've heard it said the current teenage generation are the most literate we've ever seen. Through the mediums of SMS, Instant Messaging, Social Media, and email, they write and read probably more than any previous generation.
In the UK, the schoolchildren of today appear to have good skills in working out what they want to say, planning their responses, and writing coherently.
A lot of their homework asks them to create an informative leaflet or poster, which means they often prefer to use PowerPoint over Word. Sadly, they have little understanding of Word's Heading styles.
Where they fall down, however, is in their punctuation skills. Commas seem to be a complete mystery to them. I raised this at a parents' evening, and I was told the schools were encouraging creative writing over the rigour of good punctuation. I understand this practice is changing, and schools will be going back to teaching the importance of punctuation.
I'm quite optimistic the next generation of people entering the workplace will have good technical communication skills. What do you think?
Ellis Pratt is sales and marketing director at Cherryleaf. Ranked the most the influential blogger on technical communication in Europe, Ellis is a specialist in the field of creating clear and simple information users will love.
The curmudgeon in me can’t help thinking: They read and write a lot, but can they be called “literate” if they don’t know the difference between William Shakespeare and William Shatner?
Still, it’s hugely significant that these late millennials are so comfortable using a variety of media — written and otherwise — to inform and instruct. I share your optimism, Ellis: it looks like technical communication has a bright future.
I have a 5 yr-old grandson who watches this type of video to find ways of continuing through games when he gets stuck but also just for the sake of learning a game. He came across them via search engine results. He also watches videos of games he has not seen so marketing departments might sit up here!