TOPIC 6: ELECTRONIC PRESENTATION
Definition of presentation software
Presentation software refers to an application software program that is used to
create content, which can communicate ideas and other information to a group of
audience on slides.
The presentation can be viewed as a slide show, which usually displays on a large
monitor or on a projection screen.
Some presentation software can convert an existing slide show into a format that
can be accessed on the Web.
Examples of presentation software
Microsoft Office PowerPoint Hewlett Packard Bruno (software),
Corel Presentations, King soft Presentation
Lotus Freelance Graphics, Libre Office Impress (open source)
Apple Keynote, OpenOffice.org Impress (open source)
Corel Presentations, PresentiaFX
Custom Show, Prezi
Ease, Slide Rocket
Google Docs (web-based), Slide Wiki
Harvard Graphics (obsolete
Functions of a presentation software
An editor- This allows text to be inserted and formatted
Method for inserting and manipulating graphic images or animations with
these objects
Slide show system: This allows you to display the designed slide content
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The principles of a good presentation
Use simple background
Text should be clear and that it can be seen from a distance
There should be no clash between text colour and the background colour
Use relevant pictures
Use minimal effects
Insert your picture in the appropriate place
For automatic presentation rehearse the timing
Features of a presentation software
Slide: it is an individual page found in a presentation file.
Slide layout: refers to the physical arrangement of content on a slide.
Slide sorter: a facility that enables the user to view displays all of the slides
in the current presentation in thumbnail form for easy re-arranging.
Slide master: a slide that controls appearance of all slides in the
presentation.
Placeholders: are boxes with dotted borders that contain content and reside
within a slide layout. All built-in slide layouts contain content placeholders.
Slide transitions: are the animation-like effects that occur in Slide Show
view when you move from one slide to the next during an on-screen
presentation.
Action buttons: are buttons that if clicked, leads a user to either next or
previous slide.
Speaker notes: are notes added to the presentation slides as a reference for
the presenter.
Slide show: is a presentation of a series of still images on a projection screen
or electronic display device, typically in a prearranged sequence.
Animation: is the process of creating the continuous motion and shape
change illusion by means of rapid display of a sequence of static images that
minimally differ from each other.
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Advantages of electronic presentations
Presentation software usually provides a wide variety of presentation
formats and layouts for the slides.
Multimedia components such as clip art images, video clips, and audio clips
can be incorporated into the slides.
The timing of the slides can be set so that the presentation automatically
displays the next slide after a predetermined period of time.
Special transition effects can be applied between each slide.
The presentation can normally be viewed and printed in different formats.
a) An outline format includes only the text from each slide.
b) An audience handout format includes images of one or more slides on a
page.
c) A notes page format shows a picture of the slide along with any notes
concerning the slide.
Disadvantages of Presentation Software
They cannot be used to perform calculations.
Requires technical knowledge and basic equipment to use presentation.
Over simplification of the subject
Difficult to take notes while presenting
Presenters just read from the audience which is boring.
Too easy to make a bad presentation with too many animation effects.
Areas where presentations are used
Church – for casting the hymn.
Big shops – for showing a list of goods and other related offers.
Advertising – for example outdoor advertising media.
School – for teaching and learning in schools.
Seminars and workshops – to enhance speaker’s notes and speeches
