Presentation program
A
presentation program is a software program that
helps create a slideshow that addresses a topic. Presentation programs are often used in businesses and schools
for discussing a topic or for teaching. Many times, users who use presentation programs also use a projector to project the slideshow up on a screen that everyone can
easily view. Examples of presentation programs that can be used include
Microsoft PowerPoint, iWork Keynote on the Apple, and OpenOffice Impress.
In the image to the right, is an example of OpenOffice Impress, a free presentation program and what you would see as you were creating a presentation.
Once created, a person or group of people will stand in front of other people and present the presentation. Generally, this is done by going through one slide show at a time explaining the topics or bullet points of the slide and then moving to the next slide until all slides have been shown. For example, in a business presentation a co-worker may go through slides that illustrate how well the company is doing, its profits, sales, and other important information.
Tips on presentations
- Keep it simple. Follow the Guy Kawasaki 10-20-30 rule: A presentation should have no more than 10 slides, last no longer than 20 minutes, and contain no text smaller than 30 point font.
- Don't read the slides. Your slides should help remind you of your talk and allow your audience to see only the important facts.
- Prepare. Make sure to arrive early and setup early so your audience doesn't have to watch you setup or troubleshoot any problems during setup.
- Follow general speech rules. Always look into the audience and not only the slides, keep a steady pace when speaking, and make sure to speak loudly and clearly so everyone in the room can hear you.
- Enjoy yourself. If you're not having fun or making the slide show entertaining, no one else is going to enjoy your presentation.
Related pages
Also see: Office, OpenOffice, Projector, Slide show, Software definitions