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Recently at Optimus we have decided to relook at how we conduct presentations. For years it was always the case that if you wanted to create a presentation – PowerPoint was always the answer. However like with everything else, technology has increased your choice of tools. As we are currently deciding between the 3 ourselves, we have decided to show you what we have found when comparing them.
Baiba Svenca's insight:
The article compares the advantages and drawbacks of three presentation tools - PowerPoint, Prezi and VideoScribe. 
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If you use a custom font in a presentation, and that custom font is not installed on the computer that is viewing the presentation, a font default - or substitution - is used. We cannot control which font is used as the default and we cannot guarantee what the slide will look like with the default font in use.
Baiba Svenca's insight:
You have installed a beautiful new font on your computer. But what to do if the font that you used in your presentation has suddenly changed when you present from another computer? This article suggests what you can do to avoid the problem.
In answer to the comments: The only precaution you can take is to check the fonts on the computer you will be using, as described in the article. If the font is not there, you can try changing the fonts in your presentation by those which are available or accept the default font. I'd like to add that it is possible to embed your unique font on your presentation and never lose it.
Ahmed Khabaz's curator insight,
August 6, 2013 10:40 AM
If you're a frequent PowerPoint user, you may want to know the answer for this question.
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Every beautifully animated presentation diligently followed the same formula: several slides, followed by an explanatory YouTube video -- of the Pythagorean theorem or the Fibonacci sequence, for instance -- and more slides.
Baiba Svenca's insight:
The article once again stresses the weaknesses of PowerPoint presentations and invites the readers to return to "that old-fashioned, low-tech competence" (plain speech) that may successfully replace a bad presentation.
Shamblesguru's comment,
July 28, 2013 10:38 PM
Don't shoot the messenger — it's not the tool that's the problem it's the 'toolee'
Bruce Murray's comment,
July 29, 2013 6:37 PM
Bullet-point PPTs are a disaster. Print them as handouts for notetaking, but don't highlight them on stage. I agree with Shamblesguru, however - don't blame the tool. Done right, PPT can be magical.
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Whatever the reason may be, you can easily convert your PowerPoint presentation slides into a screensaver. There are many third-party applications that offer conversion and some even charge some money for it. However, if you follow the instructions in this post, you won’t have to pay or download any application or program. You can easily set a slide or two—or even your whole presentation—into a screensaver that you can always see on your desktop.
Baiba Svenca's insight:
What a cool idea - to make a screensaver from your PowerPoint slide! The post gives you step-by-step instructions how you can do it.
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All of the books, all of the blogs, all of the top Slideshare presentations on slide design make this common plea: simplify. But how simple is too simple? I had this conversation with a non-training...
Baiba Svenca's insight:
Simplify slides? What exactly does it mean? How much content is enough? This post will give you some useful ideas about the importance of keeping your presentations succinct and not overloaded with images, shapes, data and information.
Vernon Adrian Emuang's comment,
June 19, 2013 10:29 PM
I really appreciate your scoops! Thank you very much for sharing!
Lisa West's curator insight,
June 21, 2013 6:51 AM
For everyone who does not want their audience to be DOA by DBPP ( death by power point) here is a step by step approach to create professional and effective PPP.
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Download Free PowerPoint Templates and backgrounds for your presentations. This is a free collection of themes for Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 and 2010 that you can download to make better presentations with unique styles and effects.
Baiba Svenca's insight:
This is an excellent collection of free PowerPoint templates from SlideHunter.com. Use this opportunity to download professional themes for your next presentations.
Janet Ilko's curator insight,
June 11, 2013 8:59 AM
Going to use these for my end of the year presentation to the school board! Quick and easy. 
Ester Álvarez's curator insight,
June 13, 2013 11:32 AM
Descarga plantillas gratis para las presentaciones power point y dales un aspecto novedoso y más profesional.
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Powerbullet Presenter is a desktop application for creating Flash animations and presentations. This tool can help you easily create Flash animations, even if you have no knowledge of making professional animations in Flash. Powerbullet Presenter comes with many easy to use options that allow users to add effects to still images to turn them into Flash based animations.
Baiba Svenca's insight:
If you are one of those people who still "tolerate" PowerPoint or Flash, you should read this post about using Powerbullet Presenter which helps to create animations for your presentations. Download the free tool from http://www.powerbullet.com/download.php
Don Breedwell's curator insight,
June 6, 2013 9:01 PM
Just remember that not all platforms run flash, but it is a better tool for cross platform presentations.
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PowerPoint has some amazing drawing tools that lets you create all kinds of illustrations. But sometimes it can be frustrating when you group text with an object to create an image because when you...
Baiba Svenca's insight:
Read this great tip by Laura Foley about how to use paste options in PowerPoint to manipulate texts and objects in your presentations. It may come in handy when you need to post a small block of text. If you paste your text as a picture, you may have it at any size you need.
Alfredo Corell's curator insight,
June 6, 2013 8:29 AM
A neverendingstory of amazing tools to improve Powerpoint.
Has prezi killed the Slide-star???
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"Dear Lifehacker, I have been tasked to make a slideshow for an event at work. I don’t want to make a generic PowerPoint with just boring text or pictures. What are some ways I can enhance the slideshow so it looks impressive and knocks the socks off my audience?"
Baiba Svenca's insight:
Great article answering the reader's question about how to make a slideshow look impressive. It gives suggestions and tips what to avoid and what not to forget. Learn the lessons by Steve Jobs and Seth Godin. Take note of the 5 basic slide design rules: 1. Simplify 2. Lose the cliches 3. Information needs emphasis 4. Designate elements 5. Empathy for the audience. Revise the 10/20/30 Rule, enhance your presentation by carefully choosing fonts, images, diagrams, shapes and templates. Explore lots of additional resources.
Elke Watson's comment,
May 19, 2013 5:26 PM
I was an early adopter of Prezi (I think), and am now starting to get a bit tired of the predictable jumping around. It's like cinnamon or something. A wonderful spice but in small doses and not every day! I found that I returned to PPT, using punchy images (thanks Common creative section on Flickr!!) and short / one-word statements. Very powerful
Joaquín Ballester's comment,
May 19, 2013 5:32 PM
I agree with you, Elke. PPT is more customizable and powerful.
Marion Mulder's curator insight,
May 22, 2013 6:00 AM
Oke - if you work in the corporate world there is just no escaping from having to create powerpoints at one point or another. You might as well create amzing one's while your at it. Here are some handy tips, do's & don'ts worth looking at
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Looking for an easy and inexpensive way to add high quality graphics to your blog posts? You can do it in 10 steps with PowerPoint!
Baiba Svenca's insight:
An interesting combination - PowerPoint and Pinterest. The slideshow gives some surprisingly simple yet top-notch tips how you can create eye-catching graphics using Paint and PowerPoint for Pinterest (or for any other purpose).
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Enolsoft Free PowerPoint Templates for Mac include PowerPoint templates for business, school, holidays and sencery, download free PowerPoint templates for Mac now.
Baiba Svenca's insight:
Over 80 PowerPoint templates for Mac, free to download.
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Do you work in PowerPoint often? Check out these four PowerPoint tips that could make your job faster and easier.
Baiba Svenca's insight:
The article and the video give some really valuable tips for creating presentations in PowerPoint. The author suggests the ways how to work with images in PPT more effectively and more professionally.
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Short talk about presentations given at Startup Dynamo, a workshop held by Startup@Singapore NUS using the Learn Startup Methodology. My segment was on Present
Baiba Svenca's insight:
This is a great example how to use visuals to create an eye-catching and engaging presentation using PowerPoint.
Alex Grech's curator insight,
October 9, 2013 4:18 PM
It's the first time I've taught undergraduates. I've found myself stripping slides to the core message and trying to find visuals that can communicate that message quickly, simply and yet - resonate. There is nothing as tough as trying to unclutter the mind and focus on what really needs to be said - as opposed to 'making a point' or simply 'showing off'. This presentation is about the art of visuals, clear design, and keeping it 'stupidly simple'. 
Louise Robinson-Lay's curator insight,
January 17, 2014 1:28 AM
While beautiful Powerpoint may seem like an oxymoron this slideshow proves it is possible. |
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If you need to create from a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation to a Word document, templates can really help you to streamline the design process while let you Via FPPT
Baiba Svenca's insight:
If you are looking for fresh PowerPoint templates, check out this post which informs you about the sites where you can go and get them. I liked the new site http://ppttemplate.net/ which promises to share beautiful free templates.
FPPT's curator insight,
August 16, 2013 5:57 PM
Alternatives to download free PowerPoint templates and slide designs for presentations. 
Marie-Chantal SCHMITZ's curator insight,
August 27, 2013 8:52 AM
Très utile pour sortir des sentiers battus lors de présentation
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Baiba Svenca's insight:
You won't believe this presentation was made using PowerPoint! Shouldn't you reconsider your disdain for the tool?
Louise Robinson-Lay's curator insight,
August 4, 2013 5:24 AM
My favorite quote here is' I provide the tools, its up to you what you do with them'. This video certainly had me rethinking PowerPoint. Clearly I need to learn to use it better. This was a very skillful presentation that was created only using PowerPoint. 
Chelo Banal-Formoso's curator insight,
August 10, 2013 10:44 PM
Great tool for presentations inside or outside classrooms. 
technologytoteach's curator insight,
August 28, 2013 2:45 PM
Well for the fans of PowerPoint this is what can be done
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Christopher Gurrie: In 2008, a colleague and I set out to make it our mission to rid this world of bad PowerPoint presentations. Remember the consequences: every time you make a bad PowerPoint presentation -- God (all of them) kills a kitten. Even if we can only influence one student at a time -- hopefully we are doing our part to make presentation land just a little bit better for our fellow audience members. After all, we're only on this Earth for a short while -- it shouldn't be spent sitting through boring presentations where the presenter reads to us from slides laden with too many words and not enough practice...
Baiba Svenca's insight:
An interesting article discussing the importance of the first slide in your presentation. Should it be blank or display the title of your presentation or should it just hold an image or simply a question so that you can start with an attention-grabbing intro? Ask yourself who taught you PowerPoint and how it must have influenced the way you make your own PPT presentations.
Do you think that the first slide has to be a title slide?
Sharon Miller's curator insight,
July 28, 2013 8:58 PM
OMG! Kill a kitten? Much worse than killing a captive audience . . .
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How many times have you heard the phrase, "PowerPoint sucks!" or "slides kill presentations?" Here's something to think about as you head into the weekend: PowerPoint doesn't suck. You suck. Sorry. I don't mean "you" (the person reading this blog... Via Ken Morrison
Baiba Svenca's insight:
I've always believed that PowerPoint bears the brunt of unsuccessful presentations. That is why I totally agree with the opinion expressed in this article, quoting: "PowerPoint, Keynote and the like are blank canvasses. You can put on them whatever you want... Your presentation is your ability to distill the information between your ears into a format that tells a simple, educational and entertaining story to your audience."
Louise Robinson-Lay's curator insight,
August 2, 2013 7:44 AM
recentlyrue recently I had to get students to use Powerpoint as the Internet connection was too slow to have them all work at once on other online presentation tools. After laying down some ground rules about effective use they amazed us with their creative responses. It is not the tool. It is how you use it. And how teachers plan for it!
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Because of the usefulness and versatility, PowerPoint has gained popularity and become a top brand of various presentation programs for institutions, individuals and organizations. It is indeed useful in making a presentation a successful one. In fact, this amazing presentation tool has a lot of advantages but like any other institutional tool, this software has some disadvantages that teachers and students must know and understand before making any investment of resources and money.
Baiba Svenca's insight:
The article mentions the reasons why a teacher should consider using an alternative presentation software instead of PowerPoint. See if you have the same opinion.
Miriam Gilbert's comment,
June 18, 2013 11:43 AM
I agree the article raises some valid points and those are true no matter what software (or even manual flip charts etc) you use. There is more to giving an effective presentation than starting up PowerPoint (or any software) and it is really up to the presenter to ensure he/she captures the audience....
David Madrid's curator insight,
July 25, 2013 8:30 PM
Motivos para usar nuevos softwares para crear presentaciones.
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Vivapitch lets conference audiences view and interact with the presentation slides, in real-time, on their mobile devices. Users can currently: Save the presentation, leave notes alongside important slides, share slides directly with your Twitter network.
Baiba Svenca's insight:
While listening to the presenter's speech, the audience can interact by annotating, sharing, tweeting, saving the presentation in real time. To engage your audience, all you need is to download a free Presenter app for PowerPoint. Vivapitch currently works on Android platform only.
LucaVanin's curator insight,
June 4, 2013 6:16 PM
Da provare assolutamente: permette ai partecipanti di aggiungere note e interagire con le presentazioni! :-)
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From
24slides
It’s time to share your presentation! Whether you’re delivering a business proposal to a client, an academic presentation to your professor, or even showing a personal photo slide to your grandmother, you have to ensure that your visuals can be clearly seen by your audience.
Baiba Svenca's insight:
With PowerPoint 2013 or 2010, you do not need any additional program to convert your presentation to video because this feature is integrated in the software. The article describes the steps you need to take to create a video file from your presentation. If you use PowerPoint 2007 which does not have this option, it can be done indirectly.
juanjovilar's curator insight,
November 4, 2014 7:00 AM
Convierte tus presentaciones Powerpoint en vídeos. En las versiones Powerpoint 2013 y 2010 se realiza de forma directa. En versiones anteriores hay que hecer unos pasos previos. 
Professor Jill Jameson's curator insight,
November 7, 2014 4:38 AM
Useful suggestion for sharing presentations.
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Highlight, focus or magnify objects in PowerPoint presentations, on the fly and with zero preperation Via Robin Good
's comment May 26, 2013 12:38 AM
Thank you Robin for writing about us.
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Discover some less known facts about grouping in PowerPoint. Find examples that support and showcase the features revealed.
Baiba Svenca's insight:
The post discusses grouping function of PowerPoint. Learn how to scale multiple objects, how to apply gradient, shadow or 3D effect to grouped objects, and how to rotate a group of objects. Recommended for students who are learning to create PowerPoint presentations. Read also Part 2 about creative applications of grouping feature http://www.presentation-process.com/group-in-powerpoint.html#.UXa9gkrLu3M
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All of my PowerPoint templates are completely free - no strings attached. Please use them however you wish, though I kindly ask that you do not redistribute
Baiba Svenca's insight:
A good range of PowerPoint templates, free to download. The website also gives valuable design tips.
Dan Kirsch's curator insight,
April 22, 2013 11:24 AM
Useful Powerpoint templates for middle school classes!
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Office Timeline is a free timeline maker PowerPoint add-in that allows you to easily create and share beautiful simple timelines, gantt charts, and project schedules. Via Robin Good
John's curator insight,
August 22, 2013 9:47 AM
That is just very handy. Thanks for sharing this excellent tool! 
Margarita Parra's curator insight,
December 14, 2014 12:20 PM
Hay que probar esta nueva herramienta. La liga directa:https://www.officetimeline.com/download
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ZamZar is a free service that allows you to convert files from a source file format to an output file format. You can use ZamZar to convert presentations from Open Office to PowerPoint or viceversa but also to convert from and to other presentation file formats, for example to convert to/from Keynote presentations and Flash presentations.
Baiba Svenca's insight:
Zamzar is an indispensable tool if you need to convert presentations from / to various formats, choosing the one that is most convenient for you. Zamzar is free, you will only need to give your email address to receive the converted file.
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Is it the tool or the presentation itself? what makes a good presentation "slide"?
Which of these do you chosse to make presentations??
Une comparaison des 3 outils