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Adobe Breeze Presenter

Adobe Breeze Presenter is a software tool for creating e-learning content and high-quality multimedia presentations rapidly. Breeze Presenter works with Microsoft PowerPoint content and allows instructors the ability to add narration, presenter information, interactive quizzes and animations and video. Breeze has a simply interface for adding adding audio narration and for synchronizing existing audio with slides.

Basic Specs

Version	Adobe Breeze Presenter 5 (aka Adobe Connect Presentation)
Manufacturer	Adobe
Cost	Price as of Oct 2006 - $9750 (Connect Server, Presentation (30 presenters)and Connect Training (100 named learners)
Where to Purchase	Online at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatconnect/
Authoring platform	Windows 98, ME, NT 4, 200, XP
Extra hardware/software required	Flash player required to view converted file

Synopsis

The Macromedia Breeze Presentation platform enables faculty to seamlessly publish all content to an on-demand web-based presentation that can be easily viewed, searched, and repurposed. You can also add quizzes and surveys to measure knowledge transfer.

The Good

Content is exported as .swf format, so content can be easily shared on the Web. Small Flash file size and ease of use rated high. In addition there is a quizzing function that enables quizzes to be created in powerpoint.

The Bad

While this tool does not rely on a server for content creation, it is sold in such a manner. The cost is high, although it ends up being cheaper than its competitor, Articulate, on a per user basic. For a 30 license, this ends up costing around $325 per license. This compares to $699 per user for Articulate.

Cannot publish from a Macintosh

Product Evaluation

Platform and Delivery Issues
Authoring Environment	Menu within PowerPoint
Authoring Platform	Windows
Deliver Platform	Web, Stand-alone computer and CD-ROM
Accessibility	Issues remain with screen readers not being able to read button labels. Macromedia has worked to make Breeze Presentations accessible. See Macromedia's site on how to make accessible Breeze Presentation. You first need to take some steps to make the PowerPoint Presentation accessible. Please read the article on Building an Accessible PowerPoint Presentation.
Foreign Language
Importing into Presentation Space
Importing existing PowerPoint files	Since Breeze works within PowerPoint, any existing PowerPoint files can be used.
Importing JPEG	Any JPEG image can be added to a PowerPoint slide
Importing PowerPoint with embedded audio	Audio added to the slide conflicts with slide timings when exported in Breeze. Any presentation with embedded audio will need to have the embedded audio removed and added in the lecture space (Breeze \|Add Audio)
Embedding audio in slide	Audio added to the slide conflicts with slide timings when exported in Breeze. All audio should be placed in the lecture space (Breeze \| Add Audio)
Embedding video in slide	Video placed within the slide itself will not be rendered upon Breeze export.
Importing Notes	Any notes within PowerPoint will be processed by Breeze
Importing into Lecture Space
Importing audio	.wav and .mp3 files can be imported
Importing video	.flv video files can be imported into presenter window, however Breeze does not recognize the length of the clip. Workaround would be to use audio recording tool to create a blank audio file that lasts the length of the video clip and add to slide.
Importing reference to streamed media	There is no clear way to reference a streamed media clip
Importing / Synchronizing a single audio clip with slides	One audio clip can be uploaded and used to synchronize with existing slides.
Importing / Synchronizing multiple audio clips with slides	Individual audio clips can be added to each slide
Audio editing	There is a basic editing tool to clean up audio clips
Supplemental Materials
Instructor Picture	A picture of the instructor can be displayed in the player
Instructor Biography	A biography can be added and a link is created to it within the player
Importing Documents	Supporting documents and links can be included with the presentation. A popup menu at the bottom of the player displays all links included.
Importing Captions	Captions can be added and imported when recording and importing audio. Captions are added to the notes tab, along with PowerPoint lecture notes.
Layout Controls
Layout controlled via timeline	The layout of the player cannot be changed based on position on the timeline
Layout colors adjustable	There are a number of preset templates that can be used and users can create their own layout colors.
Presentation is the main focus of player	The presentation space is the main focus of player
Lecture space is the main focus of player	The lecture space will never become the main focus of the player
Layout can be defined by user	There is a basic layout configuration.
Publishing / Revising Content
Web Export	Content can be exported for web delivery.
CD Export	Content can be exported for CD export. An auto execute option is included for CD export -- allowing the player to load when cd placed in cd-rom drive
iPod Export	Content is not exportable for delivery with an ipod
Native format retained for future edits	Since content is created in PowerPoint, changes can be made whenever necessary. However, when changes are made, the presentation needs to be republished.
Export preserves PowerPoint animations	Limited PowerPoint animations
Support / Availability
DoIT Help Desk Support	No support is provided by the DoIT Help Desk
Campus Support	UW ICS provides support for some Breeze users.
Length of Commitment	ICS is committed to supporting Breeze until July 2007
Supported by AT
Supported by Vendor
Price	ICS provides accounts for free until July 2007, although all accounts are in use currently. Purchased through Adobe, cost for 30 user license is $9,750.
Installation Issues	Requires most current version of the Flash Player

Examples

UW faculty demos

Cardiac Dysrythmias:
http://breeze.mc.maricopa.edu/p65735599/
This is a narrated slideshow by Karin Sherrill from Mesa Community College that includes an illustration of how some standard PowerPoint slide animations (e.g., "fly-in from bottom," "appear on click," etc.) and slide notes appear in Breeze.

CB: Designing Your Experiments:
http://breeze4.umn.edu/p79254110/Rajiv Vaidyanathan from the University of Minnesota, Duluth created this narrated slideshow for a consumer behavior course. It includes a visible presentation outline and slide notes.

Improper Fractions: http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/~mkroening/breeze_ex/index.htmMelanie Kroening from Mesa Community College created this narrated slideshow. It includes a visible outline, quiz example, and embedded animations.

Suggestions for Creating On-line Multimedia Presentations: https://breeze5.umn.edu/p59099202/This is a narrated slideshow by DMC consultant Scott Wilson-Barnard that includes Breeze quiz and survey demonstrations and samples of media integration. He also provides advice on planning and designing Breeze presentations.

Examples provided by UW Digital Libraries

Vendor demos