You've probably endured numerous seminars and presentations at
which you think, "been there, seen that." Holding the audience's
attention during a presentation takes preparation and innovation, but
with the help of presentation software packages, it's not as tough as
it looks. If used effectively, these packages will likely evoke a
"haven't seen that" impression on your audience.
What They're For
Presentation packages allow the user to work from a stationary
computer or plug a laptop into an electronic overhead screen projector
and advance the slides. Most conventional slides are outdated because
they are inflexible, while electronic slides can be changed and
updated at the last minute.
We spoke to PR execs who use packages from Apple Computer Inc.,
Lotus Development, Microsoft Corp. and Goldisk for: prospective client
presentations, outlining strategy and marketing plans, and outlining a
group's services or achievements. Executives use packages internally
for training programs for employees, brainstorming sessions, group
meetings, and updating client statuses to catch up employees.
How to Use Them
The most popular presentation programs are Microsoft Power Point,
Lotus Freelance, and Astound by Goldisk for Macintosh or Windows.
These are compatible with each other, and support additional systems,
like Macintosh Director and Adobe Systems Inc. Premiere to incorporate
video, sound, and clip art 'animation'; Microsoft Word to add in
straight text; and Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Illustrator to scan
in images.
Astound and Freelance have a function that times the slide
changes along with the speaker's words. For instance, fifteen seconds
into the speech a slide can change and an arrow will pop up to enhance
a point. Slides also can be advanced by manually clicking the mouse
or using a remote infra-red receiver, as suggested by Charles Pizzo,
principal of P.R. PR, Inc., New Orleans. He uses Pro-Presenter, a
credit card-sized unit that the computer will perceive as a mouse
click when pressed. He can walk around the stage with it, put it in
his pocket, point to something, and then take it back out to advance
the slides. Those adept at using it make the audience ask how the
slides change.
The multi-media features are the most important aspects of the
packages out there, according to Pizzo. That is why he bought
Astound, and now, "every time I do one of these presentations, someone
always comes up to me and asks me how I did it." He adds that, "For
no reason at all, I'll make something shoot across the screen, just to
make sure they're still watching. People don't take their eyes off it
because they don't know what's coming next."
What They Do
Astound and Freelance use animation tactics that can fade out,
move to the left, right, up or down and pop out characters, images, or
bullets. They als have transition effects that offer multiple ways of
changing screens, for example, through checkerboards, shutters or
fading out. Freelance offers the "team computing" program that sends
a presentation over the Internet or e-mail so others can suggest
changes on electronic "sticky" notes. All presentations can be sent
over the Internet and through e-mail, if the file is small. Large
files take too much memory and time to upload.
Packages like Freelance offer 'speaker notes,' which splits the
speaker's screen in half so that the notes and what's on the overhead
can be viewed simultaneously. The presentation can be printed up and
disseminated to the audience beforehand so they can follow along and
have something to take away. Sharon VanSickle, principal of KVO
Advertising and Public Relations, Portland, Ore., is incorporating
more video and sound slowly. Video files use a lot of memory and
time, and probably won't become marketplace until file-compression
software becomes available. She says that basic usage of these
packages is very easy, and people who have virtually no experience
with it pick it up very quickly.
Others agree that sound and video are much more complex and
time-consuming to prepare. Most only use it when time allows and
necessary equipment to input sound and video into a computer.
Presentation Packages
Lotus Freelance $355. (617) 693-4535
Adobe Photoshop $895. (800) 521-1976
Adobe Premiere $795.
Adobe Illustrator for Macintosh-$595, Windows-$695
Microsoft Power Point 4.0 for Macintosh or Windows 3.1-$339. Power
Point 7.0 for Windows '95 also $339. (800) 426-9400
Astound by Goldisk for Macintosh and Windows-$249.95. (905) 602-4000
MacIntosh (Apple) Director-$1199. (800) 326-2128