Recently in Emerging Technologies Category

In 2005, looks like NC State University did an evaluation of Presenter and popular peers .

Looks like they thought Presenter was the best option, but lots of info on the competitors.

I use Presenter to develop our online orientations, so this is a topic close to my heart.

Here's what I've looked at so far, and how they've faired:

Presentation Engine

Not impressed. The resulting presentations look more like poor flash-based websites than narrated presentations.

Pros:

• Web-based, so multiplatform


• Umm....

Cons:

• Ugly


• no narration and auto-advance


• probably couldn't host our own


• Would have to integrate with central auth


• Questionable Accessibility

Prezi

Produces some visually compelling presentations. This would be my #1 recommendation if it wasn't lacking key features.

Pros:

• Visually Striking


• Works well with audio, images, and online video


• Has strong connections in the higher academic space


• Web-based, so multiplatform

• Very different interface and metaphors than PowerPoint's


• No narration and auto-advance


• No animations beyond zooming/panning


• Couldn't host our own


• Would have to integrate with central auth


• Open question on accessibility

SlideRocket

Of the tools I've looked at, SlideRocket has the most going for it. Several of the key features we'd need in a Presenter replacement are only available for pay, but they are there.

Pros:

• Web-based, so multiplatform


• Most like PowerPoint


• Animations


• Works with audio, images, and online video

• Couldn't host our own


• Would have to integrate with central auth


• Open question on accessibility

I must admit that I don't really use blogs to find about new technology. I typically go looking for new technologies to solve problems/issues rather than consistently scanning the horizon.

Top 3 places that I do tend to find information include:

CNET

Wired

and

NMC list serv.

Mendeley is a reference manager and academic "social" network, with a web-face as well as native apps (with reduced functionality) for macs, pcs, and linux.

Prezi and Prezi Meeting are interesting presentation tools.

So far these have been most interesting...