Revisiting Some Presentation Tools from the Blog

As a kid I used to hate it when my favorite TV show would have an episode full of flashbacks to previous episodes. But this is completely different. :)

I'd just like to give a second look at a few presentation tools reviewed in earlier posts on this blog that I've used and enjoyed. Sometimes I will use Powerpoint for a presentation - it's comfortable but predictable. I've enjoyed using the following web-based tools as an alternative to good old Powerpoint and think you might as well.

• Vuvox - Vuvox was reviewed by Brian this past January , still has the linear feel of Powerpoint but with more flow and pazazz. You can create "hotspots" within the sliding presentation images to include hyperlinks and different forms of media. You'll need to set up a free account to start using, but I think you'll find it is a nice alternative to Powerpoint while still being similar in nature.
• Prezi - Evan blogged about Prezi back in March calling his post "Presentation 2.0." And part of Prezi's appeal is its presentations offer a nonlinear feel to them. You still create a path or map to text, pictures, media, etc... but the movement in Prezi allows the presentation to spiral, zoom and spin around the content. When used properly this produces a very engaging presentation. Like Vuvox you just need to setup a free account with Prezi to get started.
• Pageflakes-Pageflakes was the subject of one of my blog posts earlier this month. Although Pageflakes isn't exactly intended to be a presentation tool (like Vuvox or Prezi), it offers a great way to present information. In Pageflakes you can set up an entire page with content related to a subject. I tried this out in a Google Earth workshop recently, where I created a page filled with content related to Google Earth (links, RSS feeds, video and text) instead of a Powerpoint. I don't think I'd try this with every presentation, but I think it worked well for this workshop.

So there they are; a few flashbacks errr..."gems" from past blog entries to help change the ways we look at presentations.

Using Vuvox To Create Exciting Multimedia Presentations

Here is a new way to add flare to your presentations. It’s called “Vuvox”, your visual voice. This free online resource allows you to create a multimedia filmstrip that you can slide left and right on your monitor. You can add pictures, text, video, music or voice files and hyperlinks to your sliding filmstrip. Go to http://www.vuvox.com/. Click “get a free account”. Fill out the info. Click the “create” tab at the top of the page and choose either express, collage or studio. Express is a fast condensed version of the studio creation. Choose a presentation style and links to your media libraries through RSS feeds. Collage is a multimedia platform that allows you to combine your photographs, videos, sound files and text into interactive stories. The collage can be published or embedded into any website or blog. You can cut out parts of an image to use it as a frame or mask. There are multiple layers so you can place an image behind your newly created frame to spice up your photograph. You can create “hot spots” or links to other media, text or websites. You may choose to add your text, soundtrack or audio file directly to the page. When you choose to create a collage you have the option to watch three short instructional videos to help you get started. When you click “create with studio”, you will go through a series of steps to collect your media, create an interactive presentation and embed your presentation in a blog or a website. Give it a try and add flare to your lessons or presentations.