An explain article

I want to be completely honest: This article was created with the firm intention of shamelessly revealing the many disadvantages of Prezi. After all, I was completely at a loss as to what made Prezi the trendsetter of the presentation world. Fonts and line weights are not freely editable, almost all objects have to be created and inserted outside the program. There are no speaker notes and - from my point of view, most importantly - the whole thing only works online and is based on Flash. To find this out, I spent several days dealing with the program, only to then present my results in Prezi at the end of the experiment.

That should never have happened. The file transfer didn't work, the internet went out - just like my presentation. I now wanted to illuminate all of this and much more in detail. But in April 2017, exactly 30 years after the invention of PowerPoint, Prezi Next hit the market and actually ironed out most of the above-mentioned problems. The battle of the giants is in full swing, and the comparison is much more difficult than it was a year ago.

Prezi is fighting with hard bandages and presents a study in which Harvard researchers prove that Prezi is more engaging, convincing, and effective than PowerPoint. The internet unanimously agrees that presentations with Prezi are simply better, cooler, and more fun than with PowerPoint. A positive experience with zoom functions is mentioned, and Prezi users simply appear more knowledgeable and professional. If you are to believe the internet, PowerPoint is lying K.O. in the ring and is already being counted out by the referee. The end of an era. Or not?

Amidst all this turmoil, it goes unnoticed that apples and oranges are constantly being compared. Or, to be more precise, the content of a presentation is equated with the presentation technique. Prezi speaks on its homepage of using visual elements and touts storytelling. Furthermore, dialog-oriented presenting is at the forefront. And Prezi is absolutely right about that. What is skillfully ignored, however, is that all these things work just as well in PowerPoint.

The most striking feature of the Prezi software is the extensive zoom functions. With the simplest means, you achieve special kind of momentum, can hop back and forth through the depicted content at will, and supposedly make connections visually clear that way. Dramaturgical knowledge from several centuries can be safely ignored. Because flexibility is considered the greatest good, and the function of an effective introduction or a purposeful structure takes a back seat - showmanship instead of content depth.

Now let's imagine these typical rotations on a movie screen - that's exactly why there's now the expression "Seasickness by Prezi". There are excellent Prezi presentations in terms of content and visuals - I am convinced of that. But especially for good speakers, the effects should be reduced to a minimum. After all, the person with their message should be the focus, not overshadowed by the slide.

The manufacturers emphasize that the software was developed for users who are not designers. And that hits the nail on the head. The experienced PowerPoint pro would miss numerous functions. Especially adhering to corporate design guidelines is difficult due to the flexible handling of surfaces. This makes Prezi a nightmare for any marketing manager. But with numerous design templates and dizzying effects, anyone, really anyone, can create presentations. The Basic version is particularly suitable for students or pupils. Because unlike PowerPoint, this is available for free.

While Prezi struggles with the accusation of causing seasickness, people speak of "Death by PowerPoint" for the alternative. PowerPoint is the better sleeping pill and should fall under the Narcotics Act, so the widespread prejudices say. Bullet points and dry facts paired with absurd animations form the vanguard of numerous presentation sins committed. But you must not confuse a program's features with the users' knowledge or habits. Because, what hardly anyone knows, PowerPoint offers almost unbelievable possibilities. PowerPoint challenges its target audience.

After about 30 years on the market, few people know all the tips and tricks. With hyperlinks and custom presentations, it has long been possible to choose an individual path through the presentation. With PowerPoint 2016, this feature is now easier than ever and offers the same zoom effects as Prezi. Additionally, for the first time, individual elements can be animated in their shape and color - squaring the circle becomes child's play. The design of the slides is more transformable than ever before. My personal highlight is the integration of 3D graphics.

But as a conceptor, I am primarily concerned with the content aspects of the software. With sections and through the slide sorter view, the structure of the presentation becomes visible and understandable. Slide paths and animations offer a great selection to specifically support statements. But what is better now? The linear sequence, as created by most PowerPoint users? Or the dialog-oriented, fully flexible sequence Prezi is known for? As always, the truth lies between the extremes.

With PowerPoint, I have the opportunity to sensibly combine both. Content that follows an effective storyline or influences the weighting of different arguments is arranged linearly. Content that is intended to open up dialogue or demonstrate individual offers and approaches is flexibly and modularly integrated. This prevents chains of argument from being broken and ensures consistent presentation quality.

The question remains who wins the battle of the giants - Prezi or PowerPoint? In fact, I cannot answer it conclusively. Both are programs that allow a visual accompaniment to the spoken word. For private individuals, pupils, and students without program knowledge, Prezi offers quick progress and effective transitions. In the professional field, however, I continue to rely on PowerPoint. Because in the end, it's not about overshadowing the speaker, but about enriching them. And with a wide range of options, PowerPoint offers the right style for every presentation goal, from loud to soft.