Here at Communiqué PR, we are enthusiastic about staying on top of current ”tools of the trade” that enhance communication. That’s why the new cloud-based presentation software, Prezi, caught our eye. Since learning about the tool, I have noticed multiple presentations in the format, and have even seen LinkedIn profiles boasting to be “Prezi experts.”  A recent TedTalk on YouTube Driven Innovation even featured the presentation software.

So what is Prezi? Prezi is a cloud-based presentation software that has the unique property of a “Zooming User Interface,” which allows users to zoom in and out of their presentation while navigating it. This property gives Prezi’s a non-linear, brainstorming type of flow, as opposed to the traditional linear style of PowerPoint presentations. Prezi also has features such as Prezi Desktop, which allows paying subscribers to work off-line on presentations, Prezi Meeting which allows up to 10 participants to co-edit presentations in real time online, and Prezi Viewer for iPad, which has the ability to view Prezi presentations on an iPad.

How does Prezi work? Through the Prezi website, you can create your own presentation from scratch, or work from one of their pre-designed templates. Once finished, the presentation can be saved on Prezi’s website, or as an Adobe Flash file if you do not want to rely on internet connectivity. A bonus of being cloud-based is that viewers of a presentation can log on and add notes to a Prezi before, during, or after the presentation itself occurs. Additionally, a viewer of your presentation (if it is made public on the Prezi database) can download and save the file onto their computer for later reference. PowerPoint files can be converted to a Prezi by first saving the PowerPoint in PDF form, and then uploading the PDF onto the Prezi website. Unfortunately, there is no streamlined way to convert a Prezi to a PowerPoint.

What can Prezi be used for? Prezi can be used for any type of presentation to provide a visual aid. Its most popular uses, according to Wikipedia, include business and conference use, education, and miscellaneous types of information visualization (e.g. architectural presentations). Some job seekers have used the tool to create interactive portfolios and ‘Prezumes’ (Prezi + Resume).

How much does Prezi cost? Prezi is free to use, but you can purchase packages with additional features. There are two available deals. For $59 annually, you get more storage space, the ability to privatize your presentations, and the ability to put a custom logo in your presentation. For $159 annually, you can receive even more storage space, as well as a tool called “Prezi Desktop,” which allows for offline editing. Both of these packages are available for 30-day free trials.

How does Prezi compare to PowerPoint? Neither can be distinguished as better—they each work well in different situations. Here is a break-down of the basic differences:

Prezi

• Non-linear structure
• Focused on visual aspects of a presentation
• Cloud-based, so users can access their presentation from anywhere

PowerPoint

• Linear style
• Not cloud based; controlled access to your presentation

If you are looking for a tool to amp up the visual appeal of an upcoming presentation, think about giving Prezi a try!

Have you used this tool before? If yes, what are your thoughts?