With the introduction of its latest Office application, MS Sway, Microsoft is looking to make some big changes to the way professionals display presentations. Designed as a cross-platform content aggregation tool, Sway is capable of creating and sharing eye popping dynamic web-based presentations. How is Microsoft Sway looking to change the way businesses present information?
Last October, Microsoft released an invitation-only preview of Sway. The response from the participants was overwhelmingly positive, leading Microsoft to make the preview version available for all who want to try it out. If you’re curious about Microsoft Sway, you can check out the product by visiting its official website.
Sway is proving to be a versatile app, capable of enriching web-based presentations with both text and images. Check out Microsoft’s video to see what you can accomplish with Sway.
However, under SatyaNadella, Microsoft has taken steps toward the integration of previously-exclusive Windows software onto other platforms, like iOS and Android. With the addition of Microsoft Office 365 to the software company’s repertoire, there’s a noticeable shift toward cloud-based services. This lets users access the applications through their mobile device or PC, regardless of the operating system. The idea is that this makes Microsoft software appealing to all audiences.
Returning to Sway, you’ll notice that it’s primarily designed to create presentations. This is a position that is currently held by the popular slideshow creator, Microsoft PowerPoint. While PowerPoint uses slides, Sway is unique because its presentations are web-based in a browser. This means that the presentations can be navigated by using scrolling or swiping. As opposed to looking at a slideshow, Sway is more like looking at a web page, allowing it to present information in an engaging manner. Lifehacker is guessing that Sway will be used for more casual presentations, in contrast to PowerPoint’s heavier and more informative presentations.
The engine behind Sway is its algorithm that helps users to create dynamic presentations. The developers of Sway have been continuously working to find ways to improve the application. Sway is always being updated adapting quickly to shifts in the industry. This means that, just like social media, Sway is capable of updating itself to account for new trends and technologies. Sway allows for embedded Tweets and Facebook posts, which is a testament to the design of the software. Additionally, Sway accounts for screen size, similar to a responsive website. This means that the presentation will always be optimized for viewing pleasure, be it on a small or large screen.
The icing on the cake is that Sway makes it easy to access your presentations. All of your content is stored in your cloud-based OneDrive account. Creating a presentation has never been easier. All you need to do is drag and drop your content where you want it on the page (which is called the Sway Canvas). This makes it easy for even a beginner to create a dynamic presentation.
No matter how you slice it, Sway appears to be an interesting new concept from Microsoft. Have you tried Sway yet? Will you give it a shot? Let us know in the comments.