Empressr

Empressr - found here at http://www.empressr.com/ - is a free online presentation tool that allows you to upload and mesh image, audio, and video files to create Flash-like, slideshow presentations. Like Youtube and many other free content-based user account sites, Empressr enables users to share their created presentations as hyperlinks or with code snippets for embedding in social networking sites and blogs.

If I had to explain Empressr in the least amount of time, I would describe it as perfect mix of YouTube and MS PowerPoint, with some influence from Adobe Flash. However, the complication and assumed technical knowledge that it takes to built PowerPoint and Flash presentations is much removed (Although the software interface used to create the presentations looks and behaves like PowerPoint, it is still easier. Please click on the screen-shot below). Empressr, if used correctly, could be an awesome education tool for any age level. Empressr can be used to demonstrate and display science experiments with rich media, or interactive history lessons using the entire wealth of information offered by the web, or as a fun storytelling device for younger children.


Here is an example of an Empressr presentation I created for this blog. It is simple, but it was completed in about 10 minutes. Creating a more functional, useful presentation would be easy.





Empressr offers many different creative methods for creating the slides that will make up your presentation. You can create slides without any preexisiting content using Empressr's rich formatting tools with text, shapes, and custom background colors (among other things). In addition, Empressr allows users to import media from their local computer (i.e pictures from a class field trip). One function of Empressr that I especially love is that you can quickly import images from Flickr, Google, Yahoo and Photobucket (I'm not sure about the content laws here. They must have some sort of deal arranged).

Also, aspects of the software and slide creation that you think may be difficult can be completed with a great deal of ease. For example, adding audio (background music) to a presentation is as simple as uploading on .mp3 file.

The interface that allows users to create presentations is a little clunky. Non-technical and inexperienced teachers will have trouble manipulating the software and making presentations with Empressr. However, I find that Empressr is actually easier than MS PowerPoint. So, if teachers who are not tech savvy want to learn how to create their own rich media presentations, it would be an easier learning curve to utilize Empressr over Powerpoint. Still, realistically less tech inclined teachers will not be able to use Empressr with efficiency right-out-of-the-gate.

In addition, although Empressr offers their users the ability to store their presentations securely on their servers, Empressr does not offer its users a front-end website that acts as a centralized portal or container for all of the presentations they have created. This could be very convenient for students who want to go to a website to view every presentation ever created by their teacher - as opposed to just relying on links to single presentations. YouTube called this feature a "channel", and it is quite popular.