Prezi
Encyclopedia
Prezi is a cloud
-based (SaaS
) presentation software and storytelling
tool for exploring and sharing ideas upon a virtual canvas. Prezi is distinguished by its Zooming User Interface
(ZUI), which enables users to zoom in and out of their presentation media. Prezi allows users to display and navigate through information within a 2.5D
space on the Z-axis.
Prezi is used as platform for bridging linear and non-linear information, and as a tool for both for free-form brainstorming and structured presentation. Text, images, videos and other presentation media are placed upon the canvas, and can be grouped together in frames. Users then designate the relative size and position between all presentation objects and may pan and zoom in and between these objects. For linear presentations, users can construct a prescribed navigation path.
Prezi was initially developed by Hungarian architect
Adam Somlai-Fischer
as an architectural visualization tool. Prezi’s stated mission is to “make sharing ideas more interesting”, and it is intended to be an intuitive tool to develop and share ideas as a visual narrative
.
is an architect and visual artist who has worked with zooming presentations since 2001 found that a Zooming User Interface
(ZUI) enabled him to explore the "big picture" overview of a floor plan or installation and then zoom into the detail. Because there existed no commercially available zooming presentation editor at the time, each ZUI presentation he developed had to be coded by hand.
In 2007, Budapest University of Technology professor Peter Halacsy
convinced Adam to develop a publicly-available ZUI editor. After creating a prototype, they recruited a third entrepreneur, Peter Arvai
, to join as CEO— to help launch the product and company.
Prezi was launched in April 2009 from Budapest, leading to an investment from TED
Conferences and Sunstone Capital. The San Francisco office was established in November 2009. Prezi hired Head of Marketing Drew Banks
, and CFO Joel Onodera, in 2011.
• “Pan & Zoom” Prezi’s panning and zooming navigation give it a more cinematic feel than two-dimensional presentation software.
• The “Prezi Zebra”, named for its striped appearance (Prezi’s logo is a former version of the Zebra) is an object manipulation icon that lets you size, rotate, or edit an object.
• The “Prezi canvas” is an open space upon which the users places and navigates between text, images, videos, and other presentation media.
• A “Frame" is a UI
construct that groups presentation media together as a single presentation object.
• A "Path" is a navigational sequence that connects presentation objects for the purposes of structuring a linear presentation.
, Mac
or Linux
systems.
for viewing prezis created on one's Prezi online account. The iPad touchscreen
and multi-touch
UI
enables users to pan, and pinch to zoom in or out or their prezi media.
Many TED Conference speakers have used Prezi, including TED curator Chris Anderson, who used a prezi for his acclaimed TEDGlobal 2010 presentation: How Web Video Powers Global Innovation. Michael Chasen, President/CEO of Blackboard, Inc. used Prezi to deliver the keynote their BbWorld 2011 annual users' conference.
Prezi is also being used in the realms of e-learning and edutainment.
Notable Educational Cases: The Dwight School in New York City, Stanford University d.school, Harvard University, Discovery Education, Institute for the Future.
• Data visualisation
• Complex systems, process diagrams, and network diagrams
• In the realm of cognitive sciences, as a mind-mapping tool.
• Collaborative design
• Résumés and portfolios
• E-cards and other individual expressions of creativity
Others have criticized the Prezi’s lack of font and color options.
Prezi has some detractors in the presentation community. Notably, Presentation Zen author Garr Reynolds once stated that he has never seen a good presentation using Prezi. However, in a later post, he refers to Chris Anderson’s talk at TED Global 2010, which featured Prezi, as one of the best TED talks ever.
Cloud computing
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....
-based (SaaS
Saas
SAAS is an abbreviation for* Social Accountability Accreditation Services* Software as a service * Student Awards Agency for Scotland* Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences* South Australian Ambulance Service...
) presentation software and storytelling
Storytelling
Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values...
tool for exploring and sharing ideas upon a virtual canvas. Prezi is distinguished by its Zooming User Interface
Zooming User Interface
In computing, a zooming user interface or zoomable user interface is a graphical environment where users can change the scale of the viewed area in order to see more detail or less, and browse through different documents. A ZUI is a type of graphical user interface...
(ZUI), which enables users to zoom in and out of their presentation media. Prezi allows users to display and navigate through information within a 2.5D
2.5D
2.5D , 3/4 perspective and pseudo-3D are terms used to describe either:* 2D graphical projections and techniques which cause a series of images or scenes to fake or appear to be three-dimensional when in fact they are not, or* gameplay in an otherwise three-dimensional video game that is...
space on the Z-axis.
Prezi is used as platform for bridging linear and non-linear information, and as a tool for both for free-form brainstorming and structured presentation. Text, images, videos and other presentation media are placed upon the canvas, and can be grouped together in frames. Users then designate the relative size and position between all presentation objects and may pan and zoom in and between these objects. For linear presentations, users can construct a prescribed navigation path.
Prezi was initially developed by Hungarian architect
Adam Somlai-Fischer
Adam Somlai-Fischer
Adam Somlai-Fischer born 1976 in Budapest is an architect and interaction designer interested in the cultural qualities of new technologies. He creates installations and experiments that blend spaces, technologies and interactivity...
as an architectural visualization tool. Prezi’s stated mission is to “make sharing ideas more interesting”, and it is intended to be an intuitive tool to develop and share ideas as a visual narrative
Narrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
.
History
Adam Somlai-FischerAdam Somlai-Fischer
Adam Somlai-Fischer born 1976 in Budapest is an architect and interaction designer interested in the cultural qualities of new technologies. He creates installations and experiments that blend spaces, technologies and interactivity...
is an architect and visual artist who has worked with zooming presentations since 2001 found that a Zooming User Interface
Zooming User Interface
In computing, a zooming user interface or zoomable user interface is a graphical environment where users can change the scale of the viewed area in order to see more detail or less, and browse through different documents. A ZUI is a type of graphical user interface...
(ZUI) enabled him to explore the "big picture" overview of a floor plan or installation and then zoom into the detail. Because there existed no commercially available zooming presentation editor at the time, each ZUI presentation he developed had to be coded by hand.
In 2007, Budapest University of Technology professor Peter Halacsy
Peter Halacsy
Peter Halacsy is the co-founder and Head of Product for Prezi, a cloud-based presentation software company based in San Francisco. Peter is a computer scientist who previously served as Assistant Professor of New Media at the Budapest University of Technology .In 2007, he co-founded "Kitchen...
convinced Adam to develop a publicly-available ZUI editor. After creating a prototype, they recruited a third entrepreneur, Peter Arvai
Peter Arvai
Peter Arvai is CEO of Prezi, a cloud-based presentation software company. Originally from Karlskoga, Sweden, Peter has lived and worked in Budapest, Tokyo, Stockholm, Singapore and San Francisco...
, to join as CEO— to help launch the product and company.
Prezi was launched in April 2009 from Budapest, leading to an investment from TED
TED
TED may refer to:* TED , an annual multidisciplinary conference* TED spread, the yield spread between U.S...
Conferences and Sunstone Capital. The San Francisco office was established in November 2009. Prezi hired Head of Marketing Drew Banks
Drew Banks
Drew Banks is an entrepreneur, marketing strategist, and author. He currently serves as Head of Marketing for Prezi, a cloud-based presentation software company based in San Francisco....
, and CFO Joel Onodera, in 2011.
Prezi ZUI
The Prezi online and offline ZUI editors feature an unconventional tool palette.• “Pan & Zoom” Prezi’s panning and zooming navigation give it a more cinematic feel than two-dimensional presentation software.
• The “Prezi Zebra”, named for its striped appearance (Prezi’s logo is a former version of the Zebra) is an object manipulation icon that lets you size, rotate, or edit an object.
• The “Prezi canvas” is an open space upon which the users places and navigates between text, images, videos, and other presentation media.
• A “Frame" is a UI
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
construct that groups presentation media together as a single presentation object.
• A "Path" is a navigational sequence that connects presentation objects for the purposes of structuring a linear presentation.
Prezi Desktop
Prezi Desktop allows Prezi Pro or Edu Pro subscribers to work off-line and create and save their presentations on their own WindowsMicrosoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Mac
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
or Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
systems.
Prezi Meeting
Prezi Meeting is an online collaboration feature that allows up to ten people (co-located or geographically separated) to co-edit and show their prezis in real time. Users participate in a prezi simultaneously, and each is visually represented in the presentation window by a small Prezi avatar. Prezi Meeting is included in all license types.Prezi Viewer for iPad
Prezi Viewer is an app developed for the iPadIPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
for viewing prezis created on one's Prezi online account. The iPad touchscreen
Touchscreen
A touchscreen is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The term generally refers to touching the display of the device with a finger or hand. Touchscreens can also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus...
and multi-touch
Multi-touch
In computing, multi-touch refers to a touch sensing surface's ability to recognize the presence of two or more points of contact with the surface...
UI
UI
UI or Ui may refer to:* An alternate symbol for the international unit * Eurocypria Airlines, IATA airline designator* Unemployment Insurance* The United Illuminating Company* United Ireland* Universal indicator* Universities Ireland...
enables users to pan, and pinch to zoom in or out or their prezi media.
Business and conferences
As a presentation and public speaking medium, Prezi is frequently used an alternative to slide shows and PowerPoint.The product has been used by numerous leadering voices in business and politics to share and explore their ideas. Notably, The World Economic Forum is currently using Prezi as part of its presentation and media strategy.Many TED Conference speakers have used Prezi, including TED curator Chris Anderson, who used a prezi for his acclaimed TEDGlobal 2010 presentation: How Web Video Powers Global Innovation. Michael Chasen, President/CEO of Blackboard, Inc. used Prezi to deliver the keynote their BbWorld 2011 annual users' conference.
Education
Teachers and school systems worldwide--from kindergarten to university--are increasingly employing Prezi to augment and enhance their pedagogy. There is significant academic research into Prezi’s ability to facilitate different learning styles. In primary education, Prezi is often used as an interactive medium to bridge non-linear exploratory learning and more-linear instructional learning. In higher education, Prezi is used to present complex thoughts, narratives or other visual information.Prezi is also being used in the realms of e-learning and edutainment.
Notable Educational Cases: The Dwight School in New York City, Stanford University d.school, Harvard University, Discovery Education, Institute for the Future.
Information visualization
Prezi is also a tool for visualising information online. Architects and visual design professionals use Prezi to showcase their work, and as a useful tool for design thinking. Media organizations use Prezi to help their readers navigate visual information. In July 2011, The Guardian (UK) used Prezi to publish a new World Map graphic on their website, which educated their readers on the newly independent South Sudan.Additional uses
Initially developed by founder Adam Somlai-Fischer to show large architectural drawings and details, Prezi has many diverse applications for the visualisation and presentation of information including:• Data visualisation
• Complex systems, process diagrams, and network diagrams
• In the realm of cognitive sciences, as a mind-mapping tool.
• Collaborative design
• Résumés and portfolios
• E-cards and other individual expressions of creativity
Prezi vs. Powerpoint
| Prezi | PowerPoint |
|---|---|
| Non-linear navigation | linear navigation |
| Map layout | Slide stack layout |
| Web-based | Computer-based |
| Limited printing options | Multiple printing options |
Platform compatibility
Prezi is developed in Adobe Flash and Adobe AIR and is therefore compatible with most modern computers and web browsers.Revenue model
Prezi uses the freemium model. Customers who use the free Prezi Public license must publish their work on the Prezi.com website, which is publicly viewable. Customers who pay for a Prezi Enjoy or Prezi Pro can make their prezis private. Only Pro license users have access to Prezi Desktop, which enables offline editing. Prezi also offers a special education license for students and educators.Criticism
Some users have criticized Prezi’s “zooming user interface (ZUI),” claiming it to induce nausea. The company has acknowledged this potential effect and offers tutorials with recommendations for wiser use of layout to avoid this excessive visual stimulation.Others have criticized the Prezi’s lack of font and color options.
Prezi has some detractors in the presentation community. Notably, Presentation Zen author Garr Reynolds once stated that he has never seen a good presentation using Prezi. However, in a later post, he refers to Chris Anderson’s talk at TED Global 2010, which featured Prezi, as one of the best TED talks ever.
Press
Prezi has been mentioned in several notable media organizations. These include: New York Times, Mashable, PC Mag, PC World, ReadWriteWeb, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, US News & World Report and Forbes.See also
- Zooming user interfaceZooming User InterfaceIn computing, a zooming user interface or zoomable user interface is a graphical environment where users can change the scale of the viewed area in order to see more detail or less, and browse through different documents. A ZUI is a type of graphical user interface...
- Presentation software
- List of concept mapping and mind mapping software
- Comparison of notetaking softwareComparison of notetaking software-General features:-Formatted text features, others:-See also:* Comparison of web annotation systems...
- Cognitive mapCognitive mapCognitive maps are a type of mental processing composed of a series of psychological transformations by which an individual can acquire, code, store, recall, and decode information about the relative locations and attributes of phenomena in their everyday or metaphorical spatial environment.The...
- Argument map
- Concept mapConcept mapFor concept maps in generic programming, see Concept .A concept map is a diagram showing the relationships among concepts. It is a graphical tool for organizing and representing knowledge....
- Flow mapFlow mapFlow maps in cartography are by definition of Phan "a mix of maps and flow charts, that show the movement of objects from one location to another, such as the number of people in a migration, the amount of goods being traded, or the number of packets in a network".- Overview :Flow maps according...
- FlowchartFlowchartA flowchart is a type of diagram that represents an algorithm or process, showing the steps as boxes of various kinds, and their order by connecting these with arrows. This diagrammatic representation can give a step-by-step solution to a given problem. Process operations are represented in these...
- Information visualizationInformation visualizationInformation visualization is the interdisciplinary study of "the visual representation of large-scale collections of non-numerical information, such as files and lines of code in software systems, library and bibliographic databases, networks of relations on the internet, and so forth".- Overview...
- Information graphicsInformation graphicsInformation graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge. These graphics present complex information quickly and clearly, such as in signs, maps, journalism, technical writing, and education...
- Semantic networkSemantic networkA semantic network is a network which represents semantic relations among concepts. This is often used as a form of knowledge representation. It is a directed or undirected graph consisting of vertices, which represent concepts, and edges.- History :...
- Phylogenetic treePhylogenetic treeA phylogenetic tree or evolutionary tree is a branching diagram or "tree" showing the inferred evolutionary relationships among various biological species or other entities based upon similarities and differences in their physical and/or genetic characteristics...
- Radial treeRadial treeA radial tree, or "radial map", is a method of displaying a tree structure in a way that expands outwards, radially. It is one of many ways to visually display a tree., with examples extending back to the early 20th century...
- Tree structureTree structureA tree structure is a way of representing the hierarchical nature of a structure in a graphical form. It is named a "tree structure" because the classic representation resembles a tree, even though the chart is generally upside down compared to an actual tree, with the "root" at the top and the...
- Systems theorySystems theorySystems theory is the transdisciplinary study of systems in general, with the goal of elucidating principles that can be applied to all types of systems at all nesting levels in all fields of research...
- Rhizome (philosophy)Rhizome (philosophy)Rhizome is a philosophical concept developed by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari in their Capitalism and Schizophrenia project...
- Process architectureProcess architectureDualistic Petri nets are a process-class variant of Petri nets.Like Petri nets in general and many related formalisms and notations, they are used to describe and analyze process architecture.-Process Modeling with dPNs :...
- Computational sociologyComputational sociologyComputational sociology is a branch of sociology that uses computationally intensive methods to analyze and model social phenomena. Using computer simulations, artificial intelligence, complex statistical methods, and new analytic approaches like social network analysis, computational sociology...
- ComplexityComplexityIn general usage, complexity tends to be used to characterize something with many parts in intricate arrangement. The study of these complex linkages is the main goal of complex systems theory. In science there are at this time a number of approaches to characterizing complexity, many of which are...
- Scientific visualizationScientific visualizationScientific visualization is an interdisciplinary branch of science according to Friendly "primarily concerned with the visualization of three-dimensional phenomena , where the emphasis is on realistic renderings of volumes, surfaces, illumination sources, and so forth, perhaps...
- Data Presentation ArchitectureData Presentation ArchitectureData presentation architecture is a skill-set that seeks to identify, locate, manipulate, format and present data in such a way as to optimally communicate meaning and proffer knowledge.-Origin and context:...