Web 2.0 signals a major change in the software market – we are moving to a platform where users can create and disseminate content using powerful, desktop-replacement applications on the web. Rich User Experiences is a design pattern that Web 2.0 exploits to deliver desktop like applications, powered by JavaScript, XML, AJAX, SOAP and REST technologies. These web apps provide the same features as their desktop counterparts, but have the added advantage of being connected and available anywhere there is an Internet connection. Multiple and lengthy installations are a thing of the past, and data is liberated and can be shared with friends and colleagues.
There are a lot of examples for Web 2.0 applications which make use of engaging interaction to provide a rich experience – sites like Microsoft Photosynth, certain advanced features of YouTube like Leanback and the Queue, and tailored experiences for mobile version of apps (like Google Search with their Instant Preview on mobile). These products and systems all have specific goals and offer a tailored solution to a specific consumer need, while also making use of strategies for rich user experience.
One very unique application in the domain of rich user experience online software is Prezi. Prezi is, as you may guess, a presentation program. This may make it sound like Microsoft PowerPoint, but this product is nothing like the presentation programs we are use to on the desktop. Prezi is a zooming presenter – there is no concept of pages or slides. Everything is on one large canvas that can have text, headings, images and video embedded, and then “paths” (the navigation structure) placed over top to control the presentation flow. This means there has been a lot of effort to tailor the presentation development process to match the goals of the system and also the capabilities of the web.
Prezi is a very unique example of tailoring an existing desktop application and adapting it to suit the patterns employed by Web 2.0. The Prezi system is available across platforms – any desktop or notebook via any modern web browser and also on Apple’s iPad, and includes similar tools to a desktop presentation app – minus some more advanced features such as transitions and build-ins. This in itself seems like Prezi just hasn’t bothered implementing these features because they are unimportant or are technically impossible. On the contrary, Prezi is simply focusing the core components required to get innovative and exciting presentation software onto the web. This is an important factor, as the simplicity in designed creates a focus on a compelling workflow. This differentiation is critical to focus the use on Prezi’s core competency – engaging and highly visual presentations. This reduction and condensation of tool set also simplifies the use process – users can learn quickly. All controls are highly visual and designed to be natural to use. The only confusing part of Prezi is letting go of preconceptions of what a presentation is, and this means the user needs to consider if they can work with such a radically different presentation paradigm.
Looking at the parts that Prezi doesn’t do so well at, the main issue is deep personalisation. While tools are easy to get to, there is no “shortcut” system where the most frequent tools are made easier to access. There is no setting to automatically remember a user’s preferred security/Prezi visibility setting. These issues are easily fixed, and aren’t critical, but would add to the entire experience. Overall though, Prezi integrates the best practice for the Rick User Experience Web 2.0 pattern.
As part of my personal commitment to practicing what I preach, I created a basic Prezi about this weeks content. It is embedded below.
Prezi will give me a new way to communicate ideas with an audience. How could you use Prezi?
References
Ray, B. (2011). Google squeezesthumbnails into mobile search. Retrieved April 1, 2011 from http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/10/google_preview/
Stewart, A. (2007). User Experience, Rich Internet Applications and the Future of Software. Retrieved April 1, 2011 from http://www.zdnet.com/blog/stewart/user-experience-rich-internet-applications-and-the-future-of-software/256
wow another blogg about this application. not surprising really, it is a great little application. i’m going to start usingfor my next presentations . it so cool.
Hi Michael,
Good to know you are convinced of Prezi and its capabilities! Where do you plan on using the Prezi presentation, and what do you think will be the best and most difficult aspects of using Prezi in a presentation?
Hi Heath, I think this is obviously creating a rich user experience and this is the second blog I have seen about Prezi! I think it’s a great application to create dynamic presentation and also find it a great example of harnessing the collective intelligence. It’s clever of them to offer a free service at the ‘cost’ of your presentation being public. I think in an academic setting it might be distracting for a professor to use Prezi, as our lectures tend to be more linear. However, I think this would be an amazing way for public speakers to ‘show off’ their ideas. I do have some public speaking coming up and I will definitely be using Prezi as a tool to support my ideas. I used to do a lot of public speaking years ago and I really wish Prezi was around then, it would have been absolutely perfect for what I was doing. I know many people still haven’t heard of Prezi, but everyone who does is wowed by it!
Hi Mindy,
Thanks for the positive comment! I know I have already spoken to you on the other blog with this content, and I respectfully disagreed with you there on the use of Prezi in the classroom. I’ll agree it wouldn’t work for all, but you make a great point here it is good to point out ideas. This is why it worked in the guest lecture I saw this technology used in. It certainly has a wow factor – but do you think the wow factor and immersion would ware off quickly, or stick around because everything is flexible and every Prezi is dramatically different?
Great article Trent – I really liked that you actually created a presentation using the application so that I could see it in practice. Agree that they have the ‘simplicity’ part done perfectly, delivering a product that is simple to use, without unnecessary functionality. One thing I did find difficult is the fact that you cant print the slides easily – like Mindy suggests, it makes it difficult in an academic environment. It certainly has the WOW factor though! Agreed on the personalisation… could take this product to the next level with some menu adjustments and shortcuts.
Steph
Hi Steph,
Prezi doesn’t seem to have this concept of “Print” – that’s likely because you cannot print the interaction and animation involved. As with my multi-site discussion with Mindy, we have come to realise that Prezi will only work for certain people in certain situations: it’s up to the presenter to decide what is best. One thing work mentioning is that they are shareable, which is a product of Prezi being an online system.
On another not, what do mean about shortcuts? I understand they are great for usability, but I am just interested to see what shortcuts you think are relevant.
Hi Trent,
This is a great application! I used it two weeks ago with my students – where they had to present a prezi explaining an element of aeronautical information systems. We came up with a few key problems – with the main one – students no being able to use it as well as the instructional video. It was very hard to get it to do anything and it was time consuming to load prezi’s in the classroom. It’s a great application I just think it needs a lot more optimisation.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Anthony Deacon
http://anthonydeacon.wordpress.com/blog/
Some interesting comments regarding use of this program within a class environment.
I guess it comes down to whether the teaching was to remain owned by the university or not. I can imagine most universities would be interested in not necessarily keeping the information private, but ensuring it belongs to them, as when a third party owns the work that you’re paying lecturers to create, I can imagine this ruffling a few feathers :)
When I attempted to view your presentation it was no longer showing too, just so you’re aware of this :)
Chris