"In computing, a presentation program (also called presentation software) is a software package used to display information in the form of a slide show."
Designing and utilizing visual aids, such as slides or props, to enhance the audience's understanding and engagement.
Types of Visual Aids: This topic explores the different types of visual aids that can be used in presentations, such as slides, posters, videos, and handouts. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each type is crucial when choosing the right visual aid.
Design Principles: Effective visual aids rely on sound design principles such as balance, contrast, alignment, and white space. Learning about these principles can help presenters to create visually appealing and easy-to-follow aids.
Formatting Text: This topic teaches presenters how to format text on their visual aids to improve readability and enhance the overall design. It covers aspects such as font selection, size, color, and style.
Using Images: Including relevant images can enhance the impact of visual aids. This topic explores the use of images, including selecting high-quality images, applying visual cues, and positioning them effectively on the slide.
Effective Charts and Graphs: Charts and graphs are commonly used visual aids in data-heavy presentations. This topic covers the use of effective visual elements to present data, such as the use of appropriate colors, labels, fonts, and chart types.
Storytelling Techniques: Effective visual aids can also be used to tell a story. This topic focuses on how presenters can use visual aids to create a narrative that engages the audience and enhances the message.
Animation and Sound: Animation and sound can be used to add interest to visual aids. This topic explores how presenters can use these elements effectively without distracting the audience from the message.
Accessibility: Presenters need to consider the diverse needs of their audience when creating visual aids. This topic covers how to create visual aids that are accessible and inclusive, providing tips on contrast, text size, and alternative text for individuals with vision impairments.
Integration with Speech: Visual aids should complement the presenter's speech and not distract from it. This topic covers the key considerations for integrating visual aids with speeches to improve the overall impact.
Practice and Feedback: Finally, practice and feedback are crucial when creating effective visual aids. This topic explores how presenters can practice and get feedback on their visual aids to improve their presentations.
PowerPoint Slides: A multimedia presentation software that allows speakers to display various types of content, such as images, videos, and text.
Handouts: Printed materials that include detailed information about the topic, such as charts, graphs, and tables.
Posters: Large visuals that provide an overview of the topic of discussion, often including annotated photographs, graphs, and charts.
Flip charts: Paper pads typically 2-3 feet tall with sheets bound at the top that are used to present key ideas using bullet points and diagrams.
Whiteboards: A surface on which presentations can be quickly written and erased during a speech.
Models and Props: Real-life or 3D representations of the topic, used to provide a more concrete visual example of a concept.
Demonstrations: Show and tell exhibits of a practical example to enhance the speaker's speech and audience understanding.
Videos: Short documentaries or clips used to enforce or detail the speech's content.
Infographics: Creative visuals combining diagrams, illustrations, images or text meant to easily communicate complex information.
Charts and graphs: Various types of graphics depicting data, statistics, and other numerical information.
Prezi: A unique presentation software that allows speakers to create interactive, zoomable visual presentations.
Animation: A moving or kinetic visual created with unique software, demonstrating a message or topic.
Case Studies: Detailed summaries of specific examples or stories of a concept, often complemented with visuals.
Cartoons: Humoristic illustrations that add humor and fun to a speech that can lighten up the mood.
Easel Boards: Portable, lightweight display boards that can be written on with pens to illustrate talking points of speaker.
Maps: Graphics or diagrams that display the geography of a location or area to enhance understanding.
Props: Physical objects used to capture the audience's attention supporting the topic of discussion.
Graphical illustration: Graphics, art or sketches that can enhance the overall design of presentations.
Images and Photos: A collection of visual images or photographs that depict a topic or idea being discussed.
Diagrams: Illustrative visuals that depict system and organizational structures of a topic discussed.
"It has three major functions: an editor that allows text to be inserted and formatted, a method for inserting and manipulating graphic images and media clips, and a slide-show system to display the content."
"Presentation software can be viewed as enabling a functionally-specific category of electronic media, with its own distinct culture and practices as compared to traditional presentation media (such as blackboards, whiteboards, and flip charts)."
"Presentations in this mode of delivery have become pervasive in many aspects of business communication, especially in business planning."
"Presentations may also feature prominently in political settings, especially in workplace politics, where persuasion is a central determinant of group outcomes."
"Generally in presentations, the visual material is considered supplemental to a strong aural presentation that accompanies the slide show."
"Using Autographix and Dicomed, it became quite easy to make last-minute changes compared to traditional typesetting and pasteup. It was also a lot easier to produce a large number of slides in a small amount of time."
"The first microcomputer-based presentation software was Cromemco's Slidemaster, developed by John F. Dunn and released by Cromemco in 1981. The first software displaying a presentation on a personal computer screen was VCN ExecuVision, developed in 1982. This program allowed users to choose from a library of images to accompany the text of their presentation."
"PowerPoint was introduced for the Macintosh computer in 1987."
"Endemic over-reliance on slides with low information density and with a poor accompanying lecture has given presentation software a negative reputation as sometimes functioning as a crutch for the poorly informed or the poorly prepared."