7. Presentation Software
What is it?
Presentation software is used to create a slide show to present information to an audience.
What is it used for?
Creating presentations
How are presentations shown?
Presentations are commonly projected onto a whiteboard or large screen.
Slides can also be printed out onto clear acetate slides and used with an overhead projector (OHP) to project the content onto a screen. If this method is used, each acetate slide usually has to be replaced manually.
Presentations can also be set up to play through a large digital display in reception areas of hotels, schools, businesses etc.
How were things done before presentation packages?
People used large flip charts or blackboards to present information to an audience. These were limited in the amount of information that could be displayed and to the distance at which it could be viewed within the room.
Acetates could also be used by either handwriting information on them or photocopying the text/images from a printed sheet onto them.
Features of presentation software
Multimedia - Text, graphics, sound and multimedia files can be included in the presentation.
Templates - A large number of professional looking templates are provided with the software. Many more can be downloaded from the internet for little or no cost.
Slide designs/layouts - There are a large number of slide designs/layouts which can be used to create a well designed slide very quickly.
Animation and transitions - Animation and transition effects can be used to add interest to the presentation
Timings can be used to move the slides forward automatically.
Timings and loops - The presentation can also be set to loop so that it will play continuously.
Handouts - Can print out copies of the slides for the audience to write notes on or to keep for as a reminder of the presentation
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Very little skill needed in order to use | Can be tempting to use too much text which makes the information difficult to read from a distance |
| Can quickly create a professionally designed and laid out presentation by using templates and slide layout options | Animations can be distracting |
| Can insert and play multimedia files to clarify or emphasise a point | Without care, presentations can look amateurish as people get carried away with features such as Word Art, background colours, animations, timings etc |
| Can use sound to emphasise a point | |
| Presenter can be anywhere in the room - not forced to stay at the front | |
| Can use other software/websites and return to the presentation without causing much disruption |
challenge see if you can find out one extra fact on this topic that we haven't already told you
Click on this link: Presentation Software