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Sway: A new presentation application from Microsoft

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Re: Sway: A new presentation application from Microsoft

#121

Post by sheraz »

magnet_ball wrote: post #107
johnchristopher wrote: post #31

I still hold the opinion that good typography and simple layout beats semi-interactive animated pages made up of static content (ie: graphs with real time update).

People always say that good typography beats everything but I have yet to see anyone explain typography more than the "use serifs for this and use sans serifs for that".

Typography is a big topic, but a good introduction is "Stop Stealing Sheep and Find out How Type works" by Erik Spiekermann [1]

It is an especially good read for non-designers, though I've given several copies to interns.

[1] - http://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Edition-Graphic-Communication...

Re: Sway: A new presentation application from Microsoft

#122

Post by qznc »

magnet_ball wrote: post #107
johnchristopher wrote: post #31

I still hold the opinion that good typography and simple layout beats semi-interactive animated pages made up of static content (ie: graphs with real time update).

People always say that good typography beats everything but I have yet to see anyone explain typography more than the "use serifs for this and use sans serifs for that".

More simple statements:

* The longer the line the more space between lines

* Do not to mix font families

* Do not use fancy fonts

* You should probably give things more space around

* Use left aligned text, not justified

Of course, such rules are too simple. They have exception, implications, corollaries, and conflict with each other. Balancing this out is the art of typography.

Re: Sway: A new presentation application from Microsoft

#123

Post by lukesan »

jasode wrote: post #56

Some comments here express some head scratching on what exactly Sway is. I only saw the demo video like everyone else so I don't claim to know definitively but here's my take on where Sway fits. It looks like we're in a general upward trend of richer interactive documents created by average users . Some observations of the zeitgiest that look unrelated on the surface but nevertheless, seems to point towards a common…

Looking at the video it looks like the woman does not really manipulate the chart. It looks more like creating a chart and setting the type of diagram. Hence the result is a static chart not an interactive one.

Re: Sway: A new presentation application from Microsoft

#124

Post by roel_v »

roel_v wrote: post #114
jhchen wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From a technical perspective a standard web page could be saved in single HTML file that can be opened offline (with all JS/CSS inlined and images base64 encoded and inclined)--so it can be as easy as double-clicking on a file (just an .html file instead of .ppt). The average user probably lacks this knowledge though and wouldn't know to or try to double-click on an html file but it is technically feasible.

Microsoft had technology to do just this in 1999 (!). It was known as 'HTA' (Html Applications) but was ahead of its time - the rich DOM manipulation and CSS effects we have now didn't exist. HTA was discontinued years ago afaik, but in hindsight it was a peak at the future.

[can no longer edit but of course should have said 'peek' blush]

Re: Sway: A new presentation application from Microsoft

#125

Post by ZoFreX »

efiftythree wrote: post #108
bhartzer wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree, shouldn't a new service (especially one from Microsoft) be able to get traction without asking people to use another social network to help publicize itself?

The need for marketing does not go away when you become as big as Microsoft and what larger marketing platform is there in todays world than social media. I'm confused by the number of folks on HN who are confused by the use of social media for marketing.

Especially given how many small startup / tech products don't let you sign up without Tweeting about them - at least it's optional in this case!

Re: Sway: A new presentation application from Microsoft

#126

Post by fphhotchips »

jalfresi wrote: post #112
johnchristopher wrote: post #31

I still hold the opinion that good typography and simple layout beats semi-interactive animated pages made up of static content (ie: graphs with real time update).

Agreed. A single chart clearly illustrating the point you are trying to make vs. an interactive do-hickey that I have to twat about with and then infer meaning from, IMHO shows a huge disrespect for time of the audience. After all, its the authors responsibility to communicate their ideas clearly and effectively; no one is entitled to an audience. I wish more documents/spreadsheets/presentations understood this.

As always, it depends on context. I have people who will read my reports and ask endless questions about the data that I can't foresee. These are the people who will appreciate the interactive tool - it allows them to view the data in the way that gives them the most meaning.

On the other hand, sometimes I need to persuasively illustrate a singular point, as you say. In this case, a single non-interactive but stylish and easily interpreted representation fits better.

Re: Sway: A new presentation application from Microsoft

#127

Post by crisnoble »

magnet_ball wrote: post #107
johnchristopher wrote: post #31

I still hold the opinion that good typography and simple layout beats semi-interactive animated pages made up of static content (ie: graphs with real time update).

People always say that good typography beats everything but I have yet to see anyone explain typography more than the "use serifs for this and use sans serifs for that".

Jason Santa Maria's new book from A Book Apart, On Web Typography, helped me as a non designer really understand good typography. I still cannot necessarily create good typography like the masters but I can now recognize it.

http://www.abookapart.com/products/on-web-typography

Re: Sway: A new presentation application from Microsoft

#128

Post by spb »

God damnit, another "this looks really cool in a demo but has no actual practical application" showcase project from Microsoft.

Flashy animations, incredibly purpose-specific widgets, and interactive graphs? Check.

Video showing kids and families using the app to look up / compile trivia, for something nobody has ever actually done or would have any reason to do in real life? Check.

"Social integration" as a selling point? Check.

Microsoft: stop making this shit, like Office Assistant or Microsoft Bob, thinking it's a way of selling your platform to "the average user". The problem you want to solve is "customers aren't buying enough Microsoft products" - the problem you have in solving it is you think users say "I'm not buying enough Microsoft products", too. That is not the problem that they are looking to solve.

People only say "that's something interesting I could play with" when they're trying to convince themselves to buy something they don't need (like a Quadcopter, or anything "as seen on TV") - it seems Microsoft's target audience for the last decade has been exclusively the kind of consumer who looks for reasons to buy Microsoft products (in other words, Microsoft employees).

Re: Sway: A new presentation application from Microsoft

#130

Post by PaulHoule »

spb wrote: post #128

God damnit, another "this looks really cool in a demo but has no actual practical application" showcase project from Microsoft. Flashy animations, incredibly purpose-specific widgets, and interactive graphs? Check. Video showing kids and families using the app to look up / compile trivia, for something nobody has ever actually done or would have any reason to do in real life? Check. "Social integration" as a selling…

I think there's a market for a Powerpoint Killer and it might look like this.
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