Prezi Issuu Slideshare

Recently I've been exploring how to make an interactive, narrative magazine online. Why? I can't afford to create one in print yet and a brilliant friend suggested I explore ways to use the internet to get the magazine out there.

What do I want from the online experience? Clickable links, non-linear narrative option, can translate to print (maybe), easy to view and use, fun, more exploration than passive viewing.

I've been wandering around shops in downtown Canmore Alberta,  and have found some truly beautiful, fun, intriguing things. And I'd like to write a little story to go with them.

I checked out Issuu first and it looks fantastic and intimidating. I'd need to be a real graphic designer to create something in there that looked any good. Or at least that's what it feels like to me. If we ever do a full-on print version of the magazine, you can be sure that I'll take those files and put them up on Issuu.
Check out Highline Magazine's Winter 2011-12 to see just how magazine-like the experience is. There are Issuu aps too for a better mobile experience. What I don't like is that the links aren't clickable so it's a more passive experience like reading a magazine. You are a viewer, not an explorer. It's linear.

Then I went to Slideshare thinking, "You can click on links and embed video on Slideshare." I also discovered that you can add audio too but it looks like a lot of flipping back and forth between iMovie and Slideshare, so I said, "Forgettabout it." Forget audio. Slideshare is linear too though, and while that has its advantages, I wanted to see what else was out there.

Last year I experimented with Prezi, doing meeting minutes from the Canmore Community Garden brainstorm in Prezi. It was fun to do, and a great way to organize lots of inspirational images. You can pack a lot visually into a Prezi inserting key words in text, but surround the word with pertinent images. I might have to experiment with Prezi again to create the magazine journey that I'm thinking of. The thing is, I like to do the work and leverage it a few times. As Highline does print files that can upload into Issuu, I'm pretty sure that Prezi doesn't work very well for offline experience. So the energy gone into making a Prezi doesn't translate into other media.

More research ahead...any suggestions anyone? Anyone?

Canmore, Alberta

I live in the most amazing town! In one week's span I can:

-take a workshop on book binding and creation given by the endlessly creative Dea Fischer. Find her blog here http://thestarbook.wordpress.com/ 

-learn about permaculture and help to design a community garden Visual Meeting Notes on Prezi

-hear live music at any number of venues--including my home. We've got Cosy Sheridan and TR Ritchie coming on Wednesday http://www.cosysheridan.com/listen.htm

-sample excellent wines at the Canmore Wine Merchants

-hike up Cougar Creek through a canyon to a milky blue cascade of ice. Thanks Denny Pratt for photo

-eat hand made truffles at Le Chocolatier or drink coffee flavoured stout at the Grizzly Paw

-skate on the outdoor pond with heated benches

-ski along wooded trails at the Nordic Centre  or even ski to Banff on Goat Creek trail

-eat a fabulous meal at innumerable eateries

-see mountain culture films like Mi Chacra at the Banff Centre

-watch the AJHL Eagles battle the Olds Grizzlys

-walk little white fluffy dogs along a frozen river

-get an energy treatment from Rose Reeder that'll clear out the emotional ghosts that haunt you

-massage out body tightness with Lu Duce at Wilflower--she's remarkable, or extremely knowledgeable Lisa Rummel--yes related to the famous Lizzy Rummel!

-oh, and did I mention dancing freely at the Canmore Hotel to the blues legend Sonny Rhoads?!

-or hanging with friends, doing charades or playing Monopoly

-or just renting a movie and snuggling on the couch

If you are an ice climber, good on you. There's that too. And knitting circles/clubs, avalanche training, wilderness first aid, and comparative religions courses. It's hard to choose.

It's an incredible place my Canmore.

LGMS Takes Action on 350

I was so proud of the students at Lawrence Grassi Middle School on Friday. Nancy Pollard and Lee Luders classes joined forces to call for hard caps on CO2 emissions. The Mayor, Ron Casey, and Councilor Pam Hilstad joined the students and media in the first 350 action in Canmore Alberta! Leadership in action. See all about it on Flickr stream or YouTube.

I brought the chalk & rustled up the banners before breakfast.