Business people today may find it hard to imagine the days when slide projectors and cardboard graphics were the main tools available for presentations on sales, manufacturing or any other business topic.

Erik S. Lesser /Getty Images Presentation software tools can be used to make dynamic presentations for either online or in-person viewing.

Giving effective online presentations is as basic a business skill as balancing a checking account. Software such as Microsoft PowerPoint have not only changed how presentations are created, but also how they're presented. And Google Docs can make creating and giving Internet presentations fun and simple, allowing the business associate to imprint his individuality into the process.

Online presentation software allows business people to create presentations in the form of a slide show, which can be controlled and paced by the presenter. Such presentations can be stored on a computer hard drive or disc for the presenter to access in person, live in front of the intended audience.

But the software also can be used to deliver and store a presentation via the Internet, where audience members can access it at their convenience. The technology's portability makes it far more powerful than the paper-and-slide-based days of the past.

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know you can present your online presentation to a group of people from a remote location using conferencing technology? Learn more about advances in conferencing technology at Premiere Global.

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Today’s software also allows the presentation author to incorporate traditional text and images into their message. But they also allow the presenter to use more advanced media, such as video capture software and screen capture software to bring digital video images and animation into play. Such software is also written to be intuitive and easy to use for the novice.

In this article, we’ll talk about creating online presentations, including how to use screen and video capture software to make your presentations more effective.