Interactive slideshow software

‘Slideshow’ is an interesting term. I’m not sure how much it is used outside of the US. Certainly here in the UK we almost always refer to ‘presentations’.
What’s the significance of this?
Well I think it’s important that presentations (let’s stick with that) – certainly presentations where you are trying to teach an audience or convey a message – are not left to the slides alone. Far too often we sit in presentations where the audience has not been considered, the objectives not clearly established, and the content and narrative planned out well before the slides are tackled. This is a mistake. It’s like shooting a film without a script. It feels directionless and quickly bores an audience.
So here’s our appeal to every slideshow maker out there. Please keep using slides – they’re useful to highlight points and display important data (we’re visual animals after all). Plus, now, with Glisser, you can make them interactive slideshows as well. But don’t click that PowerPoint icon until you’ve written your script.

But what about the slideshow makers?

In a way, we’ve always been slideshow makers. Early cave paintings show a series of hunting scenes as separate vignettes. The Bayeux Tapestry is an early slideshow depicting chronological scenes before technology enabled them to shown in a more dynamic way.
So no wonder we still love creating slideshows and using PowerPoint or Keynote.
But what can we learn from these early slideshow makers?
Well, first – pick your slides carefully! With limited ink/time/space only the most important things were captures in their paintings or weavings. Do the same with your presentation slides. Be ruthless in ditching the waffle. Use presentation software like Glisser to get audience feedback on what slides they like and what slides aren’t necessary.
And second – tell a story. Early ‘slideshow makers’ created their content because they wanted to record and communicate events, not because they had a deadline for a speaking slot. So when you get the chance to present your slides to a room, be more caveman.

And finally – the slideshow software

Free slideshow software is widely available online. Glisser, for example, offers a free solution to presenters so you can begin adding audience interaction (and collecting important audience information) straight away.
In addition to the software itself, look for free sources of royalty-free images. Good quality high resolution images will significantly improve your slideshows, and encourage you to cut down on the words. Remember – slideshow software is just the tool – it’s up to you to use it well! Good Luck!