# Integrating twitter voting and feedback into PowerPoint

Regular readers of this blog will know that one of my current interests is using twitter as a live in-class voting tool ([TwEVS](https://hawksey.info/blog/category/assessment/twevs/)). Today, via [Jane Hart](http://janeknight.typepad.com/socialmedia/2009/10/free-powerpoint-twitter-tools.html), I was made aware of ‘[Free PowerPoint Twitter Tools’](http://www.sapweb20.com/blog/powerpoint-twitter-tools/) developed by Timo Elliott. Timo’s solution not only integrates voting within a PowerPoint presentation, but he has some other nice features including a real-time twitter ticker-tap and a feedback wall which pulls questions and response from twitter (shown below). ![](http://www.sapweb20.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/image2.png)Using these tools is very easy and all you need to do is download the PowerPoint .ppt file with embedded tools and instructions [from Timo’s site](http://www.sapweb20.com/blog/powerpoint-twitter-tools/) (unfortunately PowerPoint for Mac isn’t support yet). The technology behind this solution is simple Adobe Flash which was developed using SAP BusinessObjects Dashboarding product, [Xcelsius](http://www.sap.com/solutions/sapbusinessobjects/sme/reporting-dashboarding/index.epx) (don’t worry all you need to use this solution is PowerPoint and Adobe Flash Player). Initially the PowerPoint file didn’t work for me but thanks to a suggestion from Timo it was traced to a problem with my Flash Player installation. If you experience problems I would suggest following the [uninstall/install instructions provided by Adobe](http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/142/tn_14235.html). When I presented my solution using twitter and yahoo pipes for voting last week I would say most of the interest was in combining in-class and out-of-class activity. Timo’s solution potential fits in well with this giving an easy way to use voting as well as a the feedback wall which could be used at any point during a presentation to stimulate dialogue.