PowerPoint is known by everybody. The demonstration software is well-known small business tools on earth and simply one of the most ubiquitous.
From school the man has probably sat in their lifetime through a staggering array of PowerPoint presentations.
Is the reason behind this ubiquity the simple fact that the software is well recognized that any alternatives exist? Or, is it because PowerPoint is the best choice?
Well, the large brains of Harvard’s Department of Psychology have declared the results.
The analysis
The analysis looked at 3 different presentation styles: PowerPoint presentations, Prezi’s zooming user interface (ZUI — a graphical interface in which users change the grade of the seen area to reveal more detail) and oral presentation.
The investigators took a two-phase strategy. Firstly, participants were assigned to create a presentation. Context and the subject were supplied by the investigators. These presentations were given.
There were 146 presenters and 153 crowd members.
Second, the versions of the presentations were introduced to a 1069 strong crowd, who were surveyed.
And the results are in…
What demonstration style was the winner?
In the words of these researchers:
“Participants assessed Prezi demonstrations as more organized, engaging, persuasive, and powerful than PowerPoint and oral presentations.
“We consequently conclude that the observed effects are not biased, but instead reflect a real and special advantage of Prezi more than PowerPoint or, more generally, ZUIs over slideware.”
Prezi came out of this study. Principally, ZUI’s zooming and panning over a surface is fun and engaging . The plane is a good way of helping individuals understand the linkages between concepts.
PowerPoint presentations were thought to have ‘too small’ of engaging visual characteristics such as images and animations.
Lately were judged to be knowledgeable and professional then their peers.
Does this represent a shifting of the presentation software guard? Or, were the results representative of this fact that people are aware of Prezi, so likely to be impressed?
An answer is offered by the investigators:
“We conclude that the observed effects of demonstration format are not only caused by novelty, bias, experimenter-, or software-specific characteristics, but instead reveal a communication preference for using the panning-and-zooming animations which characterize Prezi presentations.
“Only 8% of participants claimed they preferred Prezi because it was different or new, and there was no substantial connection between the viewers’ experience with Prezi and their ratings or rank-orderings. Thus, the most likely explanation is that individuals do, in fact, perceive Prezi presentations more favorably than PowerPoint or oral presentation.”
The analysis is a clear indication of its products efficacy.
“By increasing participation, customers have reported over 30% increased close rates and viewers satisfaction scores and now we have scientific research that supports it,” says Prezi’s CEO Peter Arvai.
“Prezi is your ideal selection for persuasive, effective, and engaging presenting. We have established a platform which helps individuals and companies deepen their connection with their audiences in a means that’s enjoyable, immersive, and more powerful.”
