Computer Interface
There are many ways that PowerPoint can be used. Some are
common, some less so. In this write-up we will try to deal with some of them
with an eye on how they can help users. But as always, there may be more than
just what this list mentions, so don’t limit yourself to the standard uses
listed below. The more common uses of PowerPoint are :
- Presenter-based slide show
- Independent slide show loops
- Interactive training/testing software
Presenter-based slide show :
Most of the time, presentations are designed to supplement a
meeting. The meeting may be just a few people, or thousands. In this type of
show you have a person or people giving a talk to a group. Sometimes the
presenter will run the PowerPoint via a podium PC or a remote control, while at
other times a person will be dedicated to just running the PowerPoint, but in
each case the primary focus of the meeting is the presenter and the information,
not PowerPoint.
Independent slide show loops :
Sometimes an independent slideshow is used. This is most
common at mega events, wedding receptions, anniversaries and reunions. This
style of PowerPoint presentation can also be used for company introductions,
product information, etc. Here the slide show is the sole focus and the
informational content will tell the whole story. Because there is no live focus,
the PowerPoint presentation will have to keep the viewers’ attention through the
use of graphics, sounds, animations and content, for instance, the electronic
scoreboard in a cricket stadium churning out animations at the fall of a wicket
or when Dhoni hits a six.
Informational Kiosk :
PowerPoint can also be used to run billboards, checkout line
advertising, information centre displays, and even trade show info booths. In
some cases there will need to be information collected from the viewer (for
post-meeting follow-up) and in others, self-updating information (weather, stock
reports, event scheduling). Drill down information may be available by having
the viewer touch a button on the screen or click on a button. This allows a
viewer to select what information they are interested in.
Interactive testing/training :
PowerPoint is a great testing program and can be either
web-based or machine-based. A single user or group is shown a question and must
respond to advance the presentation. The presentation may branch to different
learning paths depending on the users’ choices, giving additional information
for areas where the users do not answer correctly. Often the scores are recorded
for later evaluation.
Web design :
PowerPoint can be used to design web-based presentations.
These can be exported to a code that is more web-friendly (HTML), but is limited
to the abilities of the users’ browsers. It can also be used to supplement a
web-based meeting, similar to a presenter-based slide show. While PowerPoint can
be used to design a website from scratch, it is not the best tool for this job.
Combinations :
Most of these groups are not exclusive, meaning that you may
combine aspects of one with aspects of another. In this way, PowerPoint may
become what you need it to be.
Planning a PowerPoint presentation :
The first step always, always, always, in planning a
PowerPoint presentation should be to turn off the computer. OK that was meant to
be a joke. Let’s take a step back and collect some of what you know by answering
a few questions :
- Who is this presentation for ?
- Who is your intended audience ?
- What type of presentation method is best suited for this type of audience ?
- What should have the audience’s attention ?
- Will this be a one-time or a presentation that will need updating regularly ?
- Who or what am I dependant on to complete this on time ?
- Who is responsible for the presentation content/script/storyboard ?
- Will it need to run on all computers, a specific computer or my computer ?
- What version of PowerPoint do I have (or will the other computers have) ?
- What basic steps can I break up the project into?
The first question leads to the second, which should answer the third. This is the most critical part of the show-building process. Write it down if you have to and tape it to the monitor, but knowing your audience will help everything else fall into place.
It’s not that presentations are used in the business scenario only. There are non-business uses also, for example:
You can do a Power Point photo show for a birthday or an anniversary, wherein a photo album type loop will run during the whole party. So, you know that your audience is family members and friends, it should run as an unassisted Kiosk loop, that will be one of several focuses for the party as people drift over to watch it for a bit. You also know that the anniversary party is in 5 weeks, and will be a one-time show. You will need to get pictures from dozens of relatives, and will need to decide yourself which ones get included and what music to set it to, but she wants to see it before the party. It will need to run on their computer, which has Power Point 2003, but will also be distributed to anyone that wants a copy. You have her permission to ask for some help from your cousins with the following steps: collecting pictures, sorting pictures, scanning pictures, inserting pictures into slides, rearranging slides, finishing presentation, copying to CDs, labelling CDs. Wow, this is a lot of information, but it defines what you will need to do.
In the next write-up we will cover how to power your presentations using animations.
You can post your comments to me on sam.client@gmail.com
