* PointeCast adds audio voice narrative to PowerPoint presentations
Following our discussion of Articulate Presenter a couple of issues ago http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/web/2005/0725web2.html?rl another product was recommended to us that also converts PowerPoint content to Flash and provides a range of e-learning tools: PointeCast Publisher, PointeCast Professional Suite, and PointeCast Portal https://www.pointecast.com/products/publisher-overview.html.
Like Articulate Presenter, PointeCast’s Publisher and Professional suite products are implemented as a plug-in for PowerPoint.
PointeCast’s tools support the recording and synchronization of an audio voice narrative to accompany PowerPoint presentations with facilities to import, edit and synchronize standard audio files https://www.pointecast.com/products/publisher-features.html.
You can also add Flash graphics, movies, applications, and video; include interactive Flash quizzes and surveys; use hierarchical navigation; use any of PowerPoint’s animations; and export your final content for Web, CD ROM, or e-mail distribution.
PointeCast’s Flash conversion process is claimed to reduce presentation file size to be up to “90% smaller than the original PowerPoint file” as compared with competing tools.
The player allows you to set the passing score for educational content and to determine which content and quizzes are required to complete a training course. You can also track and report user time within presentations and training material.
The Professional version of the player allows you to set the passing score for educational content and to determine which content and quizzes are required to complete a training course. You can also track and report user time within presentations and training material.
The PointeCast Professional Suite allows for using your own branding within the player and can load the converted Flash presentations into learning management systems using the SCORM 1.2 format or into the PointeCast Portal. See https://www.pointecast.com/products/publisher-comparison.html for a detailed feature comparison of the two editions.
The PointeCast Portal https://www.pointecast.com/products/portal-overview.html is a hosted platform that can store any kind of presentation or educational content including PointeCast training and presentations as well as Word, Excel, PDF files, and Web hyperlinks.https://www.pointecast.com/products/portal-features.html are access controls to allow the management of where, what, when, and how content is viewed. The Portal site can be customized to present your own corporate look and feel and in use, the portal allows you to track user performance and results and provides a reporting engine that can download data for use with external reporting tools such as Crystal Reports.
Among the portal’s features
An impressive family of presentation and training solutions, PointeCast Publisher is currently priced at $300, PointeCast Professional Suite $500, and PointeCast Portal $600 per month.
