Having several possible pathes in a single presentation

Maybe 3 different colours for 3 different pathes could be a first step. When you generate the final file to share it or take it away, you mention what colour you want to be the main path for the prezi you generate.
Other idea : having different starting lines and let the user chooses between a "short presentation", a "detailed" one, a "long" one, a "presentation for dummies", a "presentation for experts", "just an overview" etc... The creator will have to give these different names.
But I see, it is difficult to imagine...

yea it would be great if you could split the path and after the split the tab key would just follow the path you got on, untill it rejoins or ends

If you think of it in terms of a standard flow chart, this shouldn't be too complex. If you were allowed to pick a point along a path an "Make this a branching point", you could diverge from the main path at will wherever one of these decision points were encountered. The interface at the presentation could be the "Alt" key. Hold down "ALT" click the right-arrow on the Prezi (or Alt-Tab), and it diverts. The audience would not know the difference, but the presenter has the freedom to take a different path if required (say he/she has less time to give the presentation than planned and has built-in an abbreviated version). Also if we could add a button to "Return to last decision point" on the navigational menu, that would be sweet!

I agree with fred that this could be accomplished simply by using colors, and frankly it should be limited to one or two path diversion per decision point. It's a railroad switch, either you go straight, take the right path, or the left, you don't have an infinite number of paths to choose from (that would be too complex).

If you went down an alternate path, and it terminated where another path continues, then the natural course would be to continue on the new path (did I make sense there?).

I included a picture of an actual flowchart to illustrate the process. :-)

1. first I think there needs to be a way to select portions of the path.

I suggest that clicking once on a path section hilights it. Shift click to ad to the selectoin and double click to select it from start to end. Selecting path sections would be useful for other things to like making the path a curve or changing its speed.

Once you have that ability just use the delete key like you would for deleting other content.

2. I think you should be able to set any object (picture frame video...) as the default loading view. The option could be a circle that reads "Start" right beside the "up" and "down" circles in the place menu and would highlight when an object is selected.

I see 4 key advantages to this.

-Using a frame you can completley controll what the user sees first thing.

-Its more natural because where prezi loads to is location, rotation and scale, all of which an object shows visually. A path point just looks like a location.

-You can start any where on any path, or not start on a path at all.
Its dependent on if or where the object is on a path.

-Its simple because you can already select objects in place mode.
(Instead of making all the path points selecteble just to set one as
the start. Since all path points are on objects already it might be bloating to make the same thing selectable in two ways.

Thanks for being so involved in the community during development
that means allot to me.

To me, having multiple paths that have no relation to each other (do not intersect or divide from one another), is like creating multiple presentations in one Prezi. Nothing wrong with that, but if there is no interrelation, then what's the point? You might as well not have any paths at all. Still, if that's what you want out of the presentation, then I think the "Hyper Prezi" idea that is being discussed on this forum would amount to the same thing and perhaps avoid muddying up the interface.

Paths are somewhat integral to the success of Prezi. As much as it is lauded as non linear (which it is, particularly when building a presentation) it is the zooming nature of the path motion that WOWs the audience. If you just wanted to click from object to object, Prezi already allows for this as you could progress through a Prezi with no path whatsoever in a completely non linear nature. The path allows for a linear transition of non linear objects.

From the perspective of the presenter, not the architect of the presentation (whether they be the same person or not), how would you be able to navigate the complexities of the presentation in real time (without involving the audience in the minutia). As Prezi has no "For the presenter only" screen, with information that would let the presenter know what path their on and how to switch without revealing the whole thing to the audience (I like to keep mine in suspense)? For me this is the crux of the problem.

So, I think having a finite alternate path model (which is what I think Fred originally proposed, and is definitely what I'm talking about) keeps it simple enough that it can be executed during a presentation. As for what the user would hear/see/feel, I think at a "decision point", the paths to the next (and only the next) objects/frames would become visible and would have a letter (A, B or C) and the path selected would momentarily "light up". A practiced presenter could go through that step pretty quickly without holding-up stalling the presentation for their audience. Alternatively you could have the next object itself "light up" without revealing the path at all. The problem I see with that is if the next destination is off-screen, you'd be at a loss as to which was highlighted. If you can only see the beginning of the path however, you'll at least have an idea of which way you're headed. I suppose you could alternatively add some kind of path indicator somewhere else on the screen, but again the more you add to the "Show" screen the more you take away from the presentation itself. The audience should not have to be involved in the mechanics behind the presentation.

I'll tell you what, whatever way you ultimately decide to implement this, I'm itching to play with it!

ya, that sounds great Peter,

I think If an object is on more than one path thats fine, the tab key should just keep you on the path you were on.

haha I love a challenge, and that is a tricky question. how about this:

When an object is assigned too two or more paths a ring with the colours of each path surrounds the path point. If the ring is left multicoloured then the tab or next button will chose a random path. If you click on one of the path colours in the ring then that path becomes dominant and the hole ring goes that colour(like the deep blue path in the pic).

Well I can only speak for myself, basically I wouldn't want any paths to show in any way while im presenting. I would prefer to memorize the default paths.

When I present I use a gyration mouse (like a wee remote). Basically I can control the mouse pointer as I walk around the room very easily. Navigating a prezi is very easy even if im walking and talking in a crowd! Because most people dont have this my opinions about the interface may be unique.

For me it would be just scroll to zoom out, click the object I want and know by memory what path its on. I dont require any preset click or keys for navigating path junctions.

I totally see where your coming from (lol presenting was frustrating before i got that mouse) I think there should be a way to
assign keys or clicks to paths.

With the picture above in mind, The first click on a color in the ring could select it, at which point any key you hit would be assigned to that path on that junction, the key character would show up right in the color ring. If you click a color twice it becomes the default and the next button no longer acts randomly.

If a default ring (shown in dark blue) is clicked again then the ring gose back to random and you can edit the assigned keys again.

Would that work for you Gruth?

Random is an exiting feature for me to because for self guided web sites every users could have a different experience every time they came to the site.... even if there wasn't any new content since they were there last!

"once in "show" mode it has to be transparent to the audience....but at the same time apparent to the presenter " - Your right on the money Gurth!

Perhaps it would be nice to have a key combination, say Alt+P, that shows the paths and there keys while in show mode, or have the path info always showing on the presenters small screen but not on the projector screen.

Another helpful feature would be a second frame in the browser that loads one object ahead of the actual presentation.

the answer is simpler i think...
and conforms to your simple design chic :)

different coloured paths as mentioned above
and when you click and hold play
(instead of the timer which seems to me to be a waste of time)
coloured tabs to indicate the different potential paths

so
if you happen to be looking at an item that is part of two paths
you can choose between them

a presenter can thus define completely different paths
as well as have cross-overs

an elegant way to produce intuitive multiple-narrative presentations

Where would the colored tabs appear and if you were zoomed in the whole way on an object, how would you be able to differentiate one path from another?

Now that you explained your solution a little more thoroughly I suppose my question isn't relevant at all. If the path option is part of the menu system (i.e. where the timer display is, or thereabouts) and does not muddle-up the presentation itself, that's great.

I think your solution would work fine, unless the presentation is overly complex. If there are too many paths for example (or many were independent/disconnected as rylan proposes) it may be hard to keep track of what color went where. Also allowing too many paths in one presentation (equaling too many colored tabs) may also muddle up the interface I think.

One suggestion that may help here, is if when a "decision point" is reached (i.e. place where a path splits) Prezi could automatically pop-up the colored tabs so the presenter would get a little bit of a reminder of where the decision points occur.


Example of what I think you are saying pasted here (with perhaps slightly more muted colors)........

The way I thought of it was railroad tracks or freeway intersections. So selecting A, B or C would only be required when you get to a point in the presentation where such a divergence occurs (a decision point, like in the above flowchart).

Here's how I see it: Using your proposed flag system, when advancing through the presentation, at key locations (intersections, decision points, whatever you want to call them) you can take alternate paths. When one of these points is reached, Prezi automatically pop-ups the colored tab. The presenter then selects which way they want to go. After passing that point the color tabs disappear and the right arrow (play button) automatically follows the selected path.

Also I think that double-clicking the back (left) arrow should take you back to the decision point (so you can take a different path from there if you wish to).

Hi guys,
I've read this entire thread. And I have to say the direction this solution is going seems really really complicated.

What I really would like is to be able to create one GIANT presentation file that might actually have 10 small presentations that can be used as entirely separate paths.

Here's the use case: I am giving a presentation in which the audience asks a question. I have a smaller side presentation in which I address this question. I want to leave the current path and start on a new one that has a beginning and end. Then I want to go back to where I was.

This means that the multiple path process is NOT a choose your own adventure. It's simply more than one path within one file - but separate presentations.

The functionality hinges on you always following one path. Complicating this sounds complicated and might destroy my presentation flow.

Everything could function as it does now, however, if I leave the current path and choose another one I'm now permanently on the new path, even if it uses existing elements. To leave this path I must go back to the origin of another path.

Does that make any sense?

Here's my main concern - keep the functionality simple at this point and do not destroy the presenter's flow with decisions that must be made based on color or number but on the elements in the presentation.

Please let me know if this is off base. I'll bow out.

I agree with Fred.
This would help retain the simple yet effective nature of Prezi.
Would there be options on the starting "screen" to select which of the multiple paths to follow?

,Drew

"Here's my main concern - keep the functionality simple at this point and do not destroy the presenters flow with decisions that must be made based on color or number but on the elements in the presentation."

I agree with you- simplicity is very important. Colors and numbers may be great for building the paths but, elements/ objects are my preferred way to chose the next path to.

Thanks for joining the form, I found your opinion valuable.
and a big thanks for reading the hole thread, thats rare!

one man's simplicity
is another's boredom :)

the good thing about get satisfaction is that it presents posts in their place
and hence we don't have to have arguments
we don't need to repeat ourselves
our contributions are there
and if the developers like them
they use them :)

i luv this idea!!!

What I would love to see is a way for the person giving the presentation (or viewing the presentation) to actually make the choice of what they want to see next. For example, in a presentation about a person, you could take the path through their personal stuff, their online stuff, their professional stuff, etc.

Paths may contain the same elements, but you would see them in a different order. (Think non-linear presenting.) This would also allow the hiding of content that you don't need to show every audience. It would also allow much more targeting of content - no need to build multiple prezis for different audiences.

@happyseaurchin: If you need to sometimes show the surrounding items, then you make two sets and two paths. Simpler to follow that way. In a perfect world, I would like to have the ability to pick what shows for which path on an object by object basis (visible or not visible) - but that's dreaming.

Not a problem - we are here any time to talk about it!

(Go get some sleep!)

Hi All,
As a teacher using this in the classroom - students want the ability to collaborate on projects and presentations. The sharing component of Prezi really gives great opportunities for students to share different ideas on the same material in the same presentation.

Also, if students were to make "Choose Your Own Adventure" presentations, they could base the path dependent on the choice - that might be more difficult...and like others have said - the beauty of Prezi is it's simplicty.

If students could set up hubs with choices of paths - they could create interactive presentations - bordering on game like content - and would probably find that pretty meaningful as a way of presenting information.

Cheers to all from sunny Bangkok, Thailand.

Rob.

I would possibly use different paths if I was to create audio e-books in prezi and allow the reader to choose their narrator. I could have an avatar or photo of the person who recorded each voice and you could choose who would read to you that day. I accept it could get messy with a classroom of potential narrators wanting there to be 20+ paths ;-)

I'd like the idea of multiple paths, but please please keep prezi navigating&construction simple and natural, maybe by making several paths possible that dont split, so that at the decision point 1 path stops and there is a special frame format which shows you can choose what option you want next, and all of these are then seperate paths again.

so basically to create clear decision points to keep the paths simple

for example: we are talking about a car design:
first you present the basic parameters which are interesting for everybody,

and then you get a frame in which you can choose to either continue with the technical development or the aesthetic development.

this would only add a decision frame, and would require paths to jump

basic parameters would be path numbers 1-25
technical 26-58
and aesthetic 59-69

where path number 29 and 60 could be the same frame without trouble

i hope my message is clear

keep up the good work!!

Here is my pov:

I make hundreds of presentations based upon one core presentation.
Using powerpoint or keynote, I open my master presentation and re-order slides, delete some and occasionally add another for each client presentation I make. I then save these so I have hundreds (literally) of almost identical presentations.

If this multiple-paths idea develops, I would love to see a version of Greg's summary (diff path options selectable from the play menu) PLUS (and this would be INVALUABLE) the ability to save path data - for example against a client or event name. So I could load previously used paths, and - of course - I have a record of precisely the presentation I made to each client.

The reason this would be so useful is that:
- all of our work comes from core principles
- those principles are presented in different ways and in different sequence if the presentation is about (i) personal development, (ii) coaching, (ii) team performance, (iv) leadership, (v) culture change etc etc.
Same content - different emphasis.

Couldn't you get most of the functionality mentioned above by simply having a "jump to" type of icon? So if I drop a jump-to onto the surface, I can then make a connection link to another item. When I'm giving the presentation, I can either continue on the path or click the jump-to and go to the other item.

If that other item is part of a path, then you would continue on that path (unless, of course you clicked another jump-to).

The jump-to should be capable of having an image attached to it.

Is this feature available in free public demo of prezi?!
I can't make multiple paths in my presentation (free trial version) .

once i have seen in youtube some version of prezi desktop which has green menu instead of blue in left top of the screen?what is the diffrence between them?

Maybe you have to give us credit for being smart enough to learn how to use advanced features of the tool? You can have a Preferences or Options of Additional Features that lets each individual user customize the look and feel and features-capabilities of the his Prezi tool. If you can't give this features to the Public User for whatever reason, maybe you can give this option to Desktop users.

You can figure it out. Stop putting unnecessary constraints on the innovations.

Hi all,

I am a new user and have just read through this thread and I too like the idea of multiple paths but see it as two problems trying to be addressed with one solution:

1) For the presenter: it seems the original idea was to solve the problem where you "may" need to head in a certain direction depending on your audience but don't want that content in your main path. A good example, when doing a sales presentation on some new software product, you have a general main path that goes through the sales pitch...you may have a very technical person in the room and they need a more technical description of a component. You exit the main path and head to the "down in the weeds" bit you have embedded.

In this scenario finding your way to a path could be made easy by leaving the path and clicking on the new path head (which you made as a picture of a hat with a propeller so you would know exactly where it was) essentially by design of your Prezi.

The hard part seems to be getting back to where you were in the main presentation as you could have been zoomed in at a very granular level, this is where I see a simple feature or keystroke that allows you to go "back to main" i.e. it remembers the spot you were in in the main path and takes you back there may help solve the issue. You could then just have one path declared as main and any other free standing paths are automatically considered subs.

2) Alt paths: for this I think Greg has it right and his A B C model is great for this, to me this has use for simple eLearning functionality where the user is driving the presentation and not the presenter. I personally like the idea to then be able to use Prezi to enhance soft skills training and for some rudimentary skills testing...think Adobe Captivate branching.

This looks very similar to Seth Godin's idea here:
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_bl...