Renderforest: cloud-based video maker with easy-to-use templates and tools for creating professional intros, animations, slideshows and music visualizations. Free account renders watermarked, standard-quality videos (SD360) for embedding on the web or exporting. Higher quality files without a watermark available under a subscription of pay-per-use service. Free/Paid.
Ludus: a web-based presentation platform that works with building blocks instead of slide templates. You can drag and drop “anything” into your project and create a variety of effects and layers to make a unique presentation. Ludus also integrates with several third-party apps such as YouTube, Vimeo, and Dropbox, amongst others. Collaboration tools only available …
Vuforia: an Augmented Reality Software Development Kit, Vuforia offers a variety of tools for you to build Android, iOS, and UWP applications for mobile devices and digital eyewear. Includes target technology that recognizes a variety of shapes and objects for improving the experience of augmented reality. Vuforia Engine can also be added to apps using …
Sutori (former HSTRY): storytelling platform designed as a vertical timeline. Sutori is great for visualizing steps in a process, and for when you want to incorporate rich multimedia: you can embed images, PDF files, audio, videos, quizzes, Google Docs, tweets, forums, Padlets, and more into your timelines and share them via URL or embed code. …
Preceden: easy-to-use web-based timeline maker with a simple interface. Best for text-focused timelines. Offers several export options, including URL, PDF, and embed code. Free version offers 1 timeline with a max of 10 events. Free/Paid.
Tiki-Toki: working from a desktop or web app, create visually rich and interactive timelines. Tiki-Toki gives you the option to work in collaboration with other users, add images and videos (from Vimeo and YouTube), and generate three-dimensional timelines. This robust suite of features makes the the learning curve higher than other timelines. You can share …
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) softwares and platforms enable the decoding of images of typed, written, or handwritten text into electronically recognizable text. OCR enables readers who use assistive technology to access the content in documents such as scanned PDFs. *Note: If you use another scanner that generates image files, you can use OCR software to convert it …
ArcGIS: A system for working with maps and geographic information. Frequently used for making maps, analyzing mapped information and managing geographic information in a database. Add your maps to powerpoint, or create a StoryMap around spatial data (tutorial here). ArcGIS is accessible on the Data Services workstations (located within the Research Commons on the 5th floor of …
Carto: A platform that provides GIS and web mapping tools for display in a web browser, Carto is great if you want to map a dataset. NYU students, faculty, and researchers can get a Carto account when they sign up here with their NYU email.
Kumu: Kumu allows users to visually map data and then use filters, metrics, discussions, and presentations to engage discussions. Free for students and teachers (with .edu email).
Social Explorer: a database containing current and historical demographic data primarily from the United States with features for users to create custom maps and reports to visualize and explore said data. Map features include side-by-side visualization, swipe toggling, multimedia annotations, and multi-map presentations. FREE for NYU community.
TeamGantt: a flexible project-management tool that includes a timeline feature to visualize deadlines, priorities, dependencies, and collaboration. iOS application also available. Free Trial/Paid.
PowToon: create animated videos and presentations to download or share online. FREE/Premium.
ExplainEverything: a tablet-based application that enables you to create videos using original material such as a slideshow presentation, voice-over, images and others and its visual library. Free/Paid.
StoryboardThat: quickly turn a narrative into a storyboard with this simple online platform featuring thousands of character and background images. 14-Day free trial. FREE/Premium.
Make Beliefs Comix: allows users to create simple 3-panel comic strips to download, print, or share on the web. An iOS app is available in free and paid versions. FREE/Paid (ad-supported).
YouCanBook.me: appointment slots made easy with Google Calendar and iCal integration. Option to embed availability schedule on a website for direct booking. FREE for individual account; premium features available.
Mentimeter: a web-based presentation platform with live polling features and audience interaction. Presenters can survey the audience with the aid of cellphones (without any additional software) and display results simultaneously. Survey question formats include quizzes, multiple-choice, image-choice, scales, 2×2 matrix, word cloud, open-ended, and others. Option to add instant reaction buttons to increase audience interaction (e.g., …
Poll Everywhere: Create live polls by asking questions with the Poll Everywhere app. Poll options include multiple choice, free response, true or false, clickable images, and an upvote-style poll. Participants answer in real time using SMS or a web browser. Responses can be viewed on the web or embedded into a PowerPoint or Keynote presentation. …
Easelly: Similar to Piktochart, Easelly has ready-to-use templates. You can drag and drop images and designs to use in your infographic, edit text directly on the web page, and add charts. Export options include high quality .jpgs and .pdf. FREE/PRO
