3. Introduction
Prezi is a Hungarian software company, producing a cloudbased (SaaS) presentation software and story telling tool for
presenting ideas on a virtual canvas.
The product employs a Zooming User Interface (ZUI), which
allows users to zoom in and out of their presentation
media, and allows users to display and navigate through
information within a 2.5D or parallax 3Dspace on the z-axis.
Prezi was officially established in 2009 by co-founders Adam
Somlai Fischer, Peter Halacsy and Peter Arvai.
4. History
The word Prezi is the Hungarian short form of presentation
Prezi (or Prezi.com) was created by the support of Kitchen Budapest and
Magyar Telekom in 2008 in order to replace the ordinary slide based
presentations. Today the project is assisted by Sunstone Capital.
The actual development was done by ZUI Labs led by its three Hungarian
founders Peter Arvai, Somlai Fischer and Peter Halacsy .
6. Prezi ZUI
The Prezi online and offline ZUI editors employ a common
tool palette, allowing users to pan and zoom, and to
size, rotate, or edit an object. The user places objects on a
canvas and navigates between videos, images, texts and
other presentation media. Frames allow grouping of
presentation media together as a single presentation object.
Paths are navigational sequences that connect presentation
objects for the purposes of structuring a linear presentation.
7. Prezi Desktop
Prezi Desktop allows Prezi Pro or Edu Pro subscribers to work
off-line and create and save their presentations on their own
systems. Prezi Desktop Editor allows users to work on the
presentation off- line which come in .pez file format, to keep
it confidential on user's computer, however this feature
comes only with the licensed version.
Working with images not supported in the online editor may
be possible in the Prezi Desktop Editor. Uploading such
images through uploading a Prezi from Prezi Desktop
Editor, will lead to images not visible online. Also, users can't
upload files to online Prezi from Prezi Desktop Editor that are
bigger than their available online storage
8. Prezi Collaborate
Prezi Collaborate is an online collaboration feature that allows up to ten
people (co-located or geographically separated) to co-edit and show
their presentations in real time.
Users participate in a Prezi simultaneously, and each is visually
represented in the presentation window by a small avatar. Although Prezi
Meetings can be done simultaneously that is not the only option.
Participants can be invited to edit the Prezi presentation at a later time if
they wish. A link will be sent and the participant has up to ten days to
edit the presentation. Prezi Meeting is included in all license types
9. Prezi Viewer for iPhone & iPad
Prezi Viewer is an app developed for the iPhone & iPad for
viewing Prezi's created on one's Prezi online account. The
iPad touchscreen and multi-touch user interface enables
users to pan, and pinch to zoom in or out of their media.
Prezzip also offers templates for PreziU, with tool kits and
visuals for file presentations
11. Business and conferences
Some users at the World Economic Forum are currently using Prezi for
their presentations.
Many TED Conference speakers have used Prezi, including TED curator
Chris Anderson, who used a Prezi for his TED Global 2010 presentation:
How Web Video Powers Global Innovation.
Michael Chasen, President/CEO of Blackboard, Inc., used Prezi to deliver
the keynote at their BbWorld 2011 annual users' conference.
FBLA members have recently started using this software
12. Education
Prezi is used at Oregon State University, as well as at the Dwight School
and elsewhere in primary education and higher education.
Prezi is used by teachers and students to collaborate on presentations
with multiple users having access and the ability to edit the same
presentation, and to allow students to construct and present their
knowledge in different learning styles.
Prezi is also being used in e-learning and edutainment.
13. Information visualization
In July 2011, The Guardian used Prezi to publish a new world map
graphic on their website, for an article about the newly independent
South Sudan.
14. Criticism
Some users have criticized Prezi’s “zooming user interface (ZUI),” claiming
it can induce nausea.
The company has acknowledged this potential effect and offers tutorials
with recommendations for use of layout to avoid excessive visual
stimulation.
Some users have criticized the Prezi’s lack of font and color options.
Prezi is a Flash-based online zooming tool, most elements of the
presentation cannot be read aloud by users with disabilities by means of
a screen reader
Prezi is considered by Web2Access to be an 'inaccessible service'.
Educators have been advised that Prezi is not ADA/508 compliant and
that an accessible PowerPoint version of the presentation should be
provided online for students where a Prezi has been used.
