The Past, the Present and the Future of Presentation
Forty years ago, before the dawn of the computer age, presentations where done by mere talking to a room full of people hoping that they understand whatever it is that your saying. Then again, only colleagues in the same department held these presentation meetings, simply because they understand each other. In the event that other departments must attend these presentation meetings, a manager normally makes an appearance just so he can bridge the gap of comprehension to the rest of the company.
Then overhead projections, mechanically and/or hand-drawn typeset slides, blackboard, whiteboard and flipcharts came as presentation tools. It is effective, but people complained that it is very time consuming and tiring, but then again somebody has to do it. For years this has become the way presentations are done, which were actually effective.
Forty years later, we now have PowerPoint presentation application to aid us is creating a presentation that contains valuable information about the topic that we will discuss, and what is best about it is that it is visually interactive. Meetings are never complete without PowerPoint, it’s like attending one without your pants on!
Now, people are still complaining, because, since PowerPoint make presentation making so easy, the content are disregarded, simply because people are spending hours trying to decide which color, font, background and clip arts to use.
In the end, we should all focus on the very topic that needs to be discussed. PowerPoint presentation should only help us create a visually passable presentation. It should not dictate how people will view your presentation as a whole.
To your success,
Greg
Showing posts with label Presentation Software. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Presentation Software. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
The History of PowerPoint
The History of PowerPoint
PowerPoint is commonly used by instructors, students, business people and educationalist. It is also one of the most established methods of persuasion technology. Microsoft revised the branding of PowerPoint into Microsoft Office PowerPoint and as an included component in its Microsoft Office suite. Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 is the current version of Microsoft Office PowerPoint. Today, The Microsoft Office PowerPoint as part of the Microsoft Office suite is still one of the most commonly used presentation application in the world.
The Past, the Present and the Future of PowerPoint
Robert Gaskins and Dennis Austin (software developer) created the original PowerPoint application under the Forethought, Inc. it was originally called the Presenter.
The Presenter was then later called PowerPoint 1.0 when it was released for use for Apple Macintosh in April of 1987. During that time the PowerPoint 1.0 only function in black and white, and text and graphics generated pages only for overhead transparencies. The PowerPoint full color version came out the following year right after the first ever colored Macintosh became available in the market.
On July 31st of the year 1987, the Forethought Inc. and its PowerPoint product software was bought by Microsoft Corporation in a staggering amount of Fourteen Million dollars ($14 million). In the year 1990 the first ever version of Windows was created for Windows 3.0 and it has included the PowerPoint application as part of the Microsoft Office suite (Basic Editions Suite not included).
The 2002 PowerPoint version (available also as standalone product) and a part of the Microsoft Office XP suite, include features such as merging and comparing changes in presentations, Venn diagrams, pyramid, radial and target, the capacity to define animation paths for different shapes, task pane to select and view objects and texts on the clipboard, it has multiple slide masters, a photo album that is automatically generated, presentations that are protected by password, and smart tags that can be used to swiftly select a text format that is copied into the presentation.
The 2003 version of the Microsoft Office PowerPoint is not different from that of the former 2002 version of the Microsoft Office XP. It improved the collaboration of co-workers in terms of presentation and it also featured a “Package for CD”, which allows simple and easy burning of presentations with multimedia contents and also the viewer for CD-ROM for dissemination. It also enhanced the multimedia and graphics support.
The 2007 Microsoft Office PowerPoint is the latest version, and was released in November of 2006. Major changes and enhancements on the graphic capabilities and user interface were done.
To your success,
Greg
PowerPoint is commonly used by instructors, students, business people and educationalist. It is also one of the most established methods of persuasion technology. Microsoft revised the branding of PowerPoint into Microsoft Office PowerPoint and as an included component in its Microsoft Office suite. Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 is the current version of Microsoft Office PowerPoint. Today, The Microsoft Office PowerPoint as part of the Microsoft Office suite is still one of the most commonly used presentation application in the world.
The Past, the Present and the Future of PowerPoint
Robert Gaskins and Dennis Austin (software developer) created the original PowerPoint application under the Forethought, Inc. it was originally called the Presenter.
The Presenter was then later called PowerPoint 1.0 when it was released for use for Apple Macintosh in April of 1987. During that time the PowerPoint 1.0 only function in black and white, and text and graphics generated pages only for overhead transparencies. The PowerPoint full color version came out the following year right after the first ever colored Macintosh became available in the market.
On July 31st of the year 1987, the Forethought Inc. and its PowerPoint product software was bought by Microsoft Corporation in a staggering amount of Fourteen Million dollars ($14 million). In the year 1990 the first ever version of Windows was created for Windows 3.0 and it has included the PowerPoint application as part of the Microsoft Office suite (Basic Editions Suite not included).
The 2002 PowerPoint version (available also as standalone product) and a part of the Microsoft Office XP suite, include features such as merging and comparing changes in presentations, Venn diagrams, pyramid, radial and target, the capacity to define animation paths for different shapes, task pane to select and view objects and texts on the clipboard, it has multiple slide masters, a photo album that is automatically generated, presentations that are protected by password, and smart tags that can be used to swiftly select a text format that is copied into the presentation.
The 2003 version of the Microsoft Office PowerPoint is not different from that of the former 2002 version of the Microsoft Office XP. It improved the collaboration of co-workers in terms of presentation and it also featured a “Package for CD”, which allows simple and easy burning of presentations with multimedia contents and also the viewer for CD-ROM for dissemination. It also enhanced the multimedia and graphics support.
The 2007 Microsoft Office PowerPoint is the latest version, and was released in November of 2006. Major changes and enhancements on the graphic capabilities and user interface were done.
To your success,
Greg
Thursday, February 25, 2010
PowerPoint Presentations
PowerPoint Presentations
For many, standing and speaking in front of an audience is just a matter of confidence; for some, it’s just a matter of having the facility to speak. Some would say it’s just a matter of strategy. Public speaking and presentation skills are not just natural abilities that effortlessly come out every time you are faced with an audience; they are artistic abilities that you can learn, develop and perfect through time by means of proper training, constant practice, and use of techniques. Presentations can really be daunting especially if you are not used to it, but with proper tools, you can surely get your message across.
A Powerful Presentation Tool
PowerPoint is a presentation software that is part of the Microsoft Office system. It is a high-impact presentation tool that allows you to convey all sorts of messages to your audience. It serves as a digital replacement for pamphlets, flyers, posters, charts, and other visual aids. PowerPoint can be all these and more.
PowerPoint slides can be incorporated with sounds, videos, movies and images that help you deliver your message more effectively. Through PowerPoint's graphics and formatting carnalities, it’s easy to design your slides and make them more corporate looking, casual, or fit for a particular theme. PowerPoint allows you to customize fonts so you can make your delivery more emphatic and clear.
Tips to Maximize Use of PowerPoint
Although PowerPoint can be very useful during presentations, they can be ineffective as well when its features are not fully used. Here are some tips on how to maximize use of PowerPoint to come up with a more successful presentation.
• Choose an appropriate theme/ template– There are many pre-designed presentation themes or templates you can choose from. If you are not yet familiar with PowerPoint, you can use these themes to create your presentations. Make sure to pick a theme that matches your corporate identity, the theme of the event or the occasion, and the message you intend to impart to your audience. You may also get ideas from existing themes on how to create your own.
• Customize fonts – Using the default font--which is normally Times New Roman--all through out the slide presentation would be boring. As much as possible customize your fonts to make your presentation more dynamic and appealing to the audience; however, choose font types and sizes that are easy to read. Moreover, be consistent with the fonts you use for the headings and sub headings. Use larger fonts for more important points and smaller fonts for secondary points. Do not capitalize, unless it’s necessary, as this constitutes yelling at your audience.
• Keep slide structure simple – One way to enhance readability of your slides is to keep it simple. You can achieve this by avoiding wordiness. As much as possible, write down only the key words and phrases and not the entire sentence. You can show one point per slide to help your audience focus on a particular message at a particular time.
• Use color to reinforce your message – Colors can have different meanings. Blue suggests calmness and security while red suggests strong emotions. Green is usually associated with money. Use colors that match your message and are pleasing to the eyes. Make sure that they also match or complement the background. Light colors used on a light background would be very difficult to read.
• Use graphs, charts, sounds, videos and images when necessary – Reinforce your presentation by using graphs, charts, sounds, videos and images. These would make it easier for your audience to understand and recall the information you are giving them.
To your success,
Greg
For many, standing and speaking in front of an audience is just a matter of confidence; for some, it’s just a matter of having the facility to speak. Some would say it’s just a matter of strategy. Public speaking and presentation skills are not just natural abilities that effortlessly come out every time you are faced with an audience; they are artistic abilities that you can learn, develop and perfect through time by means of proper training, constant practice, and use of techniques. Presentations can really be daunting especially if you are not used to it, but with proper tools, you can surely get your message across.
A Powerful Presentation Tool
PowerPoint is a presentation software that is part of the Microsoft Office system. It is a high-impact presentation tool that allows you to convey all sorts of messages to your audience. It serves as a digital replacement for pamphlets, flyers, posters, charts, and other visual aids. PowerPoint can be all these and more.
PowerPoint slides can be incorporated with sounds, videos, movies and images that help you deliver your message more effectively. Through PowerPoint's graphics and formatting carnalities, it’s easy to design your slides and make them more corporate looking, casual, or fit for a particular theme. PowerPoint allows you to customize fonts so you can make your delivery more emphatic and clear.
Tips to Maximize Use of PowerPoint
Although PowerPoint can be very useful during presentations, they can be ineffective as well when its features are not fully used. Here are some tips on how to maximize use of PowerPoint to come up with a more successful presentation.
• Choose an appropriate theme/ template– There are many pre-designed presentation themes or templates you can choose from. If you are not yet familiar with PowerPoint, you can use these themes to create your presentations. Make sure to pick a theme that matches your corporate identity, the theme of the event or the occasion, and the message you intend to impart to your audience. You may also get ideas from existing themes on how to create your own.
• Customize fonts – Using the default font--which is normally Times New Roman--all through out the slide presentation would be boring. As much as possible customize your fonts to make your presentation more dynamic and appealing to the audience; however, choose font types and sizes that are easy to read. Moreover, be consistent with the fonts you use for the headings and sub headings. Use larger fonts for more important points and smaller fonts for secondary points. Do not capitalize, unless it’s necessary, as this constitutes yelling at your audience.
• Keep slide structure simple – One way to enhance readability of your slides is to keep it simple. You can achieve this by avoiding wordiness. As much as possible, write down only the key words and phrases and not the entire sentence. You can show one point per slide to help your audience focus on a particular message at a particular time.
• Use color to reinforce your message – Colors can have different meanings. Blue suggests calmness and security while red suggests strong emotions. Green is usually associated with money. Use colors that match your message and are pleasing to the eyes. Make sure that they also match or complement the background. Light colors used on a light background would be very difficult to read.
• Use graphs, charts, sounds, videos and images when necessary – Reinforce your presentation by using graphs, charts, sounds, videos and images. These would make it easier for your audience to understand and recall the information you are giving them.
To your success,
Greg
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