Microsoft Office Reference Guide

Mar 26, 2004

␡

⎙ Print

< Back Page 205 of 342 Next >

One of the first articles I wrote for InformIT related to my book, Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 in 24 Hours, and how to put a PowerPoint slide show online, with the speaker and the voiceover synchronized with the slides.

The product used was Apreso, from a company named Anystream. You can still find Apreso on some college campuses but unfortunately the program is no longer available widely.

In the five years since I wrote about it, however, web based presentations have evolved dramatically. Besides the plethora of Flash converters that will combine PowerPoint, audio and in some cases video, you have SlideShare and the varieties of YouTube, that enable the posting of PowerPoint or its video flavor, providing you use a tool like Camtasia to create a movie version of PowerPoint. (We’ve covered many of these techniques.)

More recently I covered a program (VIDITalk) that was incorporated into SharePoint sites to create custom videos for a online distribution within the sites, and also via email.

The simplicity of the tool has now been transferred to a new product offering — VIDIPresenter.

As VIDITalk’s Leonard Atlas explained originally, you could combine narration in VIDITalk with still images to create individual videos, so by exporting PowerPoint slides as JPG images, for example, you could create a VIDITalk presentation with PowerPoint slides, and combine the production easily enough with other video.

VIDITalk also let you maintain the videos in branded library or distribute them through email, and even play them in portable devices like an iPhone, PDA or portable video player. This same functionality is now available through their online Presentation tool.

Basically the VIDI Presenter just adds a new tab to the VIDI Communicator platform — but as you can see — you can now import PowerPoint directly. This gives you an easier way to use PowerPoint assets and graphics in the course of a fully functional online presentation.

While not every feature of PowerPoint is supported, self running animations will also play during the video if desired. As this is being written additional features are being implemented for a second version.

Our first step is to pick a simple background for the overall presentation, and then fill in a form with relevant information about the presentation.

Figure 1

By clicking Upload PowerPoint, you can Browse to a presentation, select it and click Open.

Figure 2

The program automatically puts the slide number in the title for each slide, and adds any information in the Slide Title part of the PowerPoint slide. You can also add a subtitle. Then you can Add Video.

Figure 3

The interface will work with a camcorder, web cam or take previously recorded videos to synch with the slide that you have chosen to annotate. Click the red dot to record.

Figure 4

Complete your pitch tied to the slide in the window and click stop recording.

Figure 5

You continue recording or choosing video as you assemble the presentation, and then click either Save or Preview.

Figure 6

Preview lets you see which slides are working and which ones may not look the way you might have expected.

Figure 7

One option would be to export some slides as JPG images, or to simply change the dimensions of any diagrams or images that are not centered in the browser window.

With the video saved, you can send the link via email.

Figure 8

The recipient can open the email and watch the video on virtually and device that can play an FLV file — and the video remains in your library under its name...

Figure 9

You can review the video from within your library, (re)edit it (reopening the Presenter interface) by combining more videos or slides with the presentation, or send it to other recipients.

If you have the branded library, you can also obviously make the video/PowerPoint combination available directly online to viewers with access to your library (in SharePoint or directly on a web site).

The potential applications are many — the main advantage is that you combine the features of Camtasia — capturing both your visuals and the presentation itself to reuse anywhere on the web or through email.

If you are planning on delivering a PowerPoint slide show in front of an audience, I would suggest that this is probably one of the best rehearsal tools you can use, because it isolates the content of individual slides and lets colleagues see and comment on how you handle the content, and your voice inflection and energy levels.

As part of the Communicator suite online, remember that you can also send links to your presentation video, and keep track of who watches it.

Remember when evaluating this product is that it can’t do what a desktop video editor does because of bandwidth and processing considerations. For what it is, a utility that puts your slides and yourself on the web in virtually real time, VIDI Presenter is a nice addition to the VIDI Communicator platform, and integrates well with its desktop cousin, PowerPoint.

InformIT Articles and Sample Chapters

Presenting a Narrated Slide Show with Apreso

Broadcasting PowerPoint Video with Serious Magic

Books and eBooks

Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 in 24 Hours

Solving the PowerPoint Predicament: Using Digital Media for Effective Communication

< Back Page 205 of 342 Next >

🔖 Save To Your Account

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Privacy Notice

Overview

Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information

To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information

Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security

Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children

This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing

Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information

If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out

Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information

Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents

California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure

Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

As required by law.
With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links

This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact

Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice

We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020

Email Address