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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

SMP Business Forum1st November 2013

Steve Engwell (‘Sherlock’)

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

• Imagine you are about to put together a presentation

• Which software to use? Traditional ‘Powerpoint’ or new ‘Prezi’?

• Which works best to engage and motivate audience?

• Both software has advantages and disadvantages

• Let’s consider Pros and Cons ……you can then decide

WHICH SHALL I USE?

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

POWERPOINT - INTERFACE

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

POWERPOINT - GENERAL

• Powerpoint well established for presentations

• ‘The standard’. Expected for delivery of presentation

• Safe option. Audience comfortable with this

• 500 million users - 95% presentation software market

• Great tool to tell a ‘LINEAR’ story Begin point A, progress events, build to conclusion and reaches point B. Nice orderly structured sequence.

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

POWERPOINT - ADVANTAGES

• User friendly. Basic concept - technically simple to use

• Taught in schools and organisations – great familiarity

• Great control. Many possibilities to slide design. Wide range colours, fonts, graphics and backgrounds

• Build content - Transitions and animations. Impact.These add to explanatory power of the presentation

• Hyperlinks – include links to click on and be taken directly to location on web when online.

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

POWERPOINT – ADVANTAGES (cont.)

• Syncs with Slideshare – can upload the presentation to the web for anyone to view online and share

• Print handouts of slides for audience. e.g. 3 slides per page – allow people to focus and add notes if they wish and refer

• Can present charts and tables (various sets of data)

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

POWERPOINT – DISADVANTAGES

• Linear format – some complain ‘scripted’ and not easily adaptable to audience. Getting to a slide once presentation underway can be difficult

• Large file sizes – can create large files (with images, audio and video). Emailing difficult. Cloud storage websites and ‘Dropbox’ enable sharing

• People will stick to basics and not optimise all Powerpoint capability – so presentations can look bland.

• Surprising what can be achieved in Powerpoint

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

PREZI – INTERFACE

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

PREZI – GENERAL

• New concept for visual aids in presentation. Flash based

• Create a presentation using a large blank page instead of traditional slides

• It is NON LINEAR – story presented with multiple ‘paths’ to move from point A to point B

• As Powerpoint – seamlessly integrate images, text, videos, animation and sound

• No integrated tools for graphs and flowcharts. Create such images outside and bring them in

• Unlimited canvas to lay out ideas – concept of a ‘Mind Map’

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

PREZI – GENERAL (cont.) Sherlock’s digression

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Mind Mapping (/Prezi) uses both halves of the brain

Left brain = logical thinking, finding information, processing, analysis, objectivity, order/clarity, adept at tasks

Right brain = creative, random, pictorial representation, big picture, expressive

Individuals tend to be dominant in one or other

Synergy of the two is used in Mind Maps:- Helps you organise the structure of your thoughts better- Remember items more easily and recall them more quickly - Retain new information more easily – clarity- Aids learning – encourages new ideas

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

PREZI – GENERAL (cont.)

The power of ‘Mind Mapping’

• Invented and used by Tony Buzan since 1970

• Use mind maps for anything – defining complex problems, solving problems, planning, taking notes, writing a book etc.

• Telling a story in this way causes the unconscious mind to open up. Uses and responds to symbols – follows directions - programmed to seek more ……..

• As you think back to the Prezi presentation now, you may find some images just pop back into your head…….

Sherlock’s digression

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

PREZI – GENERAL (cont.)

The power of ‘Mind Mapping’

• Conscious mind holds 7 (+ or – 2) pieces of info at any one time. Unconscious mind holds some 2 million (George A Miller)

• Engages with the visual senses – powerful – boost creativity

‘NLP sub modalities’• - image framed or panned• - location in space• - bright/dim• - colour or black/white• - intensity• - focused/blurred

Sherlock’s digression

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

PREZI – ADVANTAGES

• Zooming – this is where Prezi is uniquely different.

• Click background will zoom out and give overview or zoom in to a particular frame for emphasis. Explore and pan ideas smoothly and naturally. Scroll wheel on mouse – fab!

• NON-LINEAR. Determine a ‘path’ – unfold the story – jump in and out of ideas – flexibility

• Comes alive! Swirling movement creating impact and intrigue

• Share presentations online – up to 10 audience members

• Invite selected people to view or edit content (email link)

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

PREZI – DISADVANTAGES

• Limited design options – limited backgrounds and templates to choose from – each has pre-chosen fonts and colours that can’t be changed. Restrictive.

• Overuse of the zoom and panning facility is thought to cause dizziness and nausea (??)

• Need to be creative. Some people may not understand how to create fun and a dynamic presentation (NB: fun is an explosive formula for the unconscious mind)

• Not widely available for mobile devices at present Apple = Yes Andriod = No

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

PREZI – DISADVANTAGES

Pro is the only version you can run from your desktop

- offline

COST

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

PREZI – DISADVANTAGES

• Learning curve. Relatively simple in nature - takes time to practice and master. Thought to be outside the comfort zone for many.

• Cheaper ‘web based’ online options can feel like files are out of your control and ownership

• Loading issues subject to local computer memory, Flash and Browser (Firefox favoured over Explorer)

• Limited printing options – does not sync with Slideshare

• Prezi continues to evolve! Room to grow.

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

WHICH TO USE? - CHOICE

• For best results important to practice to create dazzling presentations

• Get your story right ….otherwise neither will help!

• Both have their place - Powerpoint has advantages for the average business presenter- Prezi also has benefits – especially for a more dynamic, interactive and memorable presentation

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

SHERLOCK’S RECOMMENDATION

• If time is an issue to display ideas, facts, figures in simple way? Stick with Powerpoint

• If you have time to learn and really want to create an inter-active experience with a strong ‘wow’ factor? Use Prezi

• In my view, the ability to use both sides of the brain to design and deliver the presentation …’no brainer’i.e. Prezi!

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POWERPOINT vs PREZI

DISCUSSION

You are asked to prepare a presentation for a forthcoming significant event.

You are proficient in both Powerpoint and Prezi……

What software would you choose ….and why?