Building A Presentation Using Computer Software

One of the most difficult tasks any worker faces is creating a presentation. This could be anything from a casual outline of a new project for your workgroup all the way up to a formal event in front of hundreds or even thousands of your co-workers.

While creating an engaging, interesting presentation can be a cause of great stress, it doesn’t have to be. Through the use of modern computer software and associated technologies, a great presentation is easily within your grasp. Presentation technology has come a long way from the days of overhead projectors and writing on transparencies with a marker. Through the use of programs like PowerPoint or Apple KeyNote, it is possible to build a graphically-rich show that will capture and hold the audience’s attention.
These programs usually break down into three components. First, there is an editor that allows you to create and format text in a similar manner as a standard word processor. This is where you allow your writing skills to come forward, laying out exactly what you wish to say. Short, pithy thoughts are important here – each point is a separate slide in the finished presentation, and you do not want to clutter them up with unnecessary text.

The next element is a method to insert and manipulate graphics and images. Many programs come with a large library of standard graphic elements built in, and you can also add company-specific or other specialized graphics at need. The program will allow you to resize or otherwise change each graphic to get exactly the image you want. Be careful not to overdo it with graphics, however. Too many or too flashy graphics or images can distract your audience, taking away from your overall message rather than supporting it.

Finally, the presentation software gives you a method to assemble your finished work for final display, generally in a slide-show format. Each individual element, or slide, in the completed presentation can be shuffled and laid out for maximum impact. This is also where you insert transitional elements, like wipes and fades – the final crowning touch that raises your budget report or product discussion from the mundane into something that your co-workers will be talking about for months to come. Now it’s a simple matter of taking your laptop to the meeting room, connecting it to the projector, and calling up your presentation. A few clicks, and the results of your hard work are on display for all to see.

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