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Options for Streaming PowerPoint Presentations |
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We talked about the problems with Microsoft PowerPoint documents for use online in the July/August 2004 edition of the DE Oracle. These problems included its susceptibility to viruses, its proprietary format, but mostly its large file size. One of the solutions we talked about was "streaming" the slides in a web-ready format. It should be noted that these solutions are, in general, suitable for users with an intermediate level with web authoring. Those who are new to creating web pages might find these options daunting and very difficult to implement. Currently there are no how-to instructions available on the DE Oracle on the use of these products. Some of the product sites, however, do provide tutorials or other documentation. Some Available OptionsThere are several options, with different advantages and drawbacks. Three considerations include functionality (how much can be done?), compatibility (what formats are available?), ease-of-use (how complicated is it to complete the job?), and cost (is the software free or does it cost money to buy a license?). AuthorGEN for PowerPointThis software package installs "within" PowerPoint and allows the user to narrate a slide presentation using audio, video, or both. It produces files that work as HTML with an embedded Windows Media Player (but must be viewed using the Internet Explorer browser, other browser have unpredictable resutls), in RealMedia format (which requires the audience to have a free "plug-in" which the vast majority of users already have installed), or as a Flash file for use on handheld devices such as PocketPCs. It does not keep any of the animations or slide transitions that are built into PowerPoint, nor does it use the native "narration" feature of PowerPoint. A benefit is that AuthorGEN can pull in the "notes" from a PowerPoint presentation and show them as captions. This is a boon for making these multimedia presentations accessibile. At the time of this writing, the AuthorGEN web site lists year's license at US$149. A higher-end product called AuthorGEN Studio allows users to integrate a PowerPoint presentation with a pre-recorded audio or video source. This is more professional because it allows errors and imperfections to be edited out or effects to be added in before the final product is generated. The cost is roughly US$2000 at the time of this writing, however. ImpaticaImpatica is a software that "processes" PowerPoint files. The benefit of this is that it preserves the native narration features of PowerPoint and also preserves its slide transitions. The software takes a .ppt file and "impaticizes" it (as the company likes to call the process). This creates a proprietary file set that can be uploaded to a web server. It does not support video, however. When a user accesses the file, a Java-based player is downloaded into their browser which plays the presentation. Impatica comes the closest to "purely" making a PowerPoint file "web-ready". At the time of this writing, there is no pricing for the product on the Impatica web site, but UMUC has negotiated a license with the company such that faculty may download it for free from within the Faculty Center in WebTycho. Accordent PresenterOneThis package allows the user to mix a pre-recorded RealMedia audio and/or video file with a PowerPoint file. Similar to AuthorGEN, the user hits the space bar to proceed to the next slide as the audio or video narration proceeds. It generates a file which can be displayed in a RealMedia format. The disadvantage is that the audio and video will have to be converted to RealMedia format before it can be used by PresenterOne, which involves an extra step, and another piece of software (called RealProducer, available in a free "basic" version). A free version called PresenterOne Basic is available from the RealNetworks web site. Though the functionality is limited, it is probably sufficient for most users within an academic setting. Microsoft ProducerThis product works in conjunction with PowerPoint 2002 or 2003 (earlier versions are not supported). It allows you to synchronize the presentation with a pre-recorded audio or video file in any of several formats (including WindowsMedia format, MPEG, AIFF, and WAV). It allows you to easily synchronize the audio or video with the PowerPoint slides. Microsoft Producer generates output in WindowsMedia format. Producer is available free from the Microsoft Producer page. URLs of Links Used on This Page
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