If you are not familiar with the term, a "Screencast" is a record of your desktop. This is an ideal way to show things such as how to use a complex function of Microsoft Office (or how to do file attachments, so you do not have to explain a 78 when your mother, ahem).

All you do is start recording, the implementation of the activities one step at a time (narrative along the way, if you want), and then stop recording. The end result is a video; you can send an e-mail to others, posted to YouTube, and so on.

Does not require any expensive equipment or special software to create screencasts - as long as your browser, in a few minutes, and o-Matic Screencast services. It is free of charge. Do not need to install. And has recently added support for high-definition (1280 x720) records. You do not even need an account to use it, but you can create a free, if you want to monitor your recording. The following is an example of an o-Matic Screencast short screencast demonstration shows that the Office 2007:

After you have completed recording screencast, you can save it to your computer in the MP4 format, or upload it to your YouTube account. I like the way the mouse to highlight the expansion of services and the clicking of the mouse, so that there is a easy to track the audience you are doing.

I would like to point out that if you want to add narration to your screencast, you need a microphone. If you have a camera, all your settings. Otherwise, any old microphone on it.