Question

different visual aid methods/software, and discuss the pros and cons of 3 of them. include: PowerPoint, Canva, Prezi, Google slides, Adobe Spark, YouTube, video, etc.

Answer 1

Let’s compare three of the most popular presentation packages: PowerPoint, Keynote, and Google Slides.

Purpose of choosing these three packages to compare:

These three packages come with three most widely used operating platforms around the globe – Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac and Google’s Office Android. We will be digging into some of the advantages and disadvantages of each package.

Why do we even need them?

Presentation software allows you to create professional slide presentations. A slide presentation allows the presenter to share information using words and images. Many current presentation software packages also include audio and animation features. Initially, slide presentations were geared towards live audiences. Now, slide presentations are just as likely to be delivered to a web audience and published online.

No matter which software package you use, one way to ensure professional results is by choosing a quality template. A template determines the look and feel of your presentation. The right presentation template can mean the difference between a dull, lacklustre slide show and a truly professional presentation.

Let’s dig into the main attribute, pros & cons for each of these three packages

1. PowerPoint

As part of the Microsoft Office suite, PowerPoint has been one of the most popular presentation software packages for years. It's got a large number of themes. Support is widely available, not only through Microsoft, but also from third-party articles published by its large user base. Because it’s an established software package, PowerPoint has many advantages for the small business owner. Those advantages include:

· Ease of Use. The navigational structure will be familiar to anyone who uses other Microsoft software. It includes a help system and even some basic tutorials. You can also use Microsoft’s technical support.

· Customization Options. PowerPoint includes a large number of special effects. There are also many themes available, some through Microsoft and some through third parties like Envato Elements.

· File Types Supported. This software presentation package can import and export a large number of file types. It’s compatible with files from other Microsoft Office products. It also lets you integrate audio files.

· Community Support. Due to the large number of users there are many articles and books to help you learn how to use the tool effectively.

· Integration with Office Apps. Use Microsoft Excel for data and analysis? It's a breeze to drop data tables and charts from Excel right into your PowerPoint presentation.

· Mobile apps. Available for free, the mobile apps on iOS and Android are the perfect way to take your work with you and not lose your productivity streak.

Despite its many advantages, there are still some weaknesses:

· Collaboration. Recently, PowerPoint has improved the ability to collaborate in real-time. However, there are still more steps than with Google Docs. To work with another user, you must save the document to OneDrive and invite the people you want to collaborate with.

· Web apps. While Microsoft has a browser-based version of PowerPoint, it's not as fully featured or as seamless as Google Slides, for example.

· Perception. Some users report that PowerPoint leads to less creative presentations. This is probably because many businesses rely on older, basic templates that don’t use the most recent features.

2. Keynote

What is Keynote? Simply put, Keynote is part of Apple’s iWork productivity suite. It was designed for a Mac and is a streamlined presentation tool. It's got a stylish interface that's easy to use. Keynote remote works on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod. While the support isn't quite as extensive as what's available for PowerPoint, there are still a lot of resources available. If you’re already a Mac user, Keynote just might be the best presentation software for your business needs.

Here are some of the advantages of Keynote:

· Ease of Use. Like many Mac programs, Keynote features an intuitive, user-friendly interface. Most users with basic computer knowledge will be able to learn how to work with this package quickly.

· Multiple Devices. With iCloud you can use Keynote on multiple devices and sync your files through the cloud. This can be handy if you need to make a presentation using your iPad or iPhone.

· Customization Options. With many different themes, animation, and effects available it’s easy to get creative. There are also many themes available from third parties, like Envato Elements.

· Export Feature. Keynote files can easily be exported to PowerPoint or even QuickTime. It also integrates well with other iWork software.

Disadvantages of Apple Keynote include:

· Less Extensive Help Files. Many users report that the help files with Keynote aren't as comprehensive as those available from Microsoft. However, there’s enough there that even beginning users should be able to learn and start using this software quickly.

· Mac Only. If you've got a PC and want to create Keynote files from scratch, you’re out of luck. You can open a Keynote file with your PC, though. To open a Keynote file on a PC it must first be exported to a compatible format such as a .pdf or .ppt file.

3. Google Slides

Google Slides is part of Google’s software office suite included within Google Drive. The software and your work reside completely on the web, making it an ideal choice for online sharing. Google Slides is relatively new. It offers a number of intuitive and innovative presentation features. As long as you're connected, you can access Google Slides from any device. If you work with a team who all use different platforms, Google Slides may be the right choice for you.

Here are some advantages of Google Slides:

· Ease of use. Google Slides isn't difficult to learn. Help files are incorporated, although they don’t seem to be as extensive as in some of the other packages. There are quite a few third-party resources to help you learn Google Slides.

· Web-based. The online files are always current and up-to-date. You can also easily link or embed your document into a web page.

· Collaboration. It’s easy for colleagues and team members to access and edit documents through the web no matter what device they're working on. Changes can be made simultaneously in different parts of the same presentation.

· Innovative. Google Slides has several innovative features. For example, the new Q & A feature that allows audiences to interact with a speaker through a link looks like a promising feature to hold audience engagement for those who make public presentations.

Disadvantages of Google Slides include:

· Fewer Choices. Google Slides has fewer choices for effects. There are also fewer themes, though Envato Elements has a good selection of choices. Some users find the program features to be too basic.

· Google Account Required. If you don’t currently have a Google account, you'll need one to use this package. However, you can sign up for an account free of charge.

· Where can you go to learn more about Google Slides? You can start with our Tuts+ tutorial, Getting Started with Google Slides. You can also ask questions in the Google Product Forums.

Now, this is a chart with a breakdown approach to show the main differences between PowerPoint vs Keynote vs Google Slides.