(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...The new PowerPoint 2013 has some extremely good features, but…
I hate to start out with a negative. However, the very best new feature in PowerPoint 2013 was the ability to embed video from any of the sharing sites like YouTube, Vimeo, etc. This feature alone was worth upgrading for. Because Google and Microsoft always seem to be butting heads, Google made changes to YouTube, and this feature no longer works. There is much buzz that this will be resolved but for now, the only video service you can embed from is through a OneDrive account.
Image: Yay Images
Many of the improvements are related to alignment and organization. Below are the ones that will be of interest to the Trial Lawyer.
Enhanced Presenter View: Lawyers will especially appreciate the new Enhanced Presenter View. The Presenter View in PowerPoint 2013 displays the active slide on the left side, the next slide at the top right, while the Notes for the current slide are displayed in the bottom right corner. A timer appears above the preview of the current slide, and extra controls are available at the top and bottom of the Presenter View window.
This presents much useful information to the lawyer, allowing him to see exactly where he is in the presentation and what comes next before it is presented in the courtroom.
Some changes have also been made to the console. Now, you have an extra Laser Pointer Pen Tool, option to zoom parts of a slide, see all slides at a time, and the ability to switch Slide show and Presenter Views between the connected display monitors.
Account Management: The Account Management window allows you to connect to your OneDrive account and add services to use with PowerPoint. Sign in to your Microsoft Account, and it will automatically connect to your OneDrive account. You can use the same account to sign in to Microsoft Office 2013 on different devices. This way, all your saved documents will be synced to the cloud and will be available for viewing and editing from any device. This eliminates the need to carry your documents in removable storage drives. Using the OneDrive account, you can easily share your presentations and invite others to collaborate on required presentation projects.
Cloud-based storage and computing are definitely the wave of the future. Especially for the legal profession. Now you can have staff back at the office working on parts of a presentation, editing deposition video clips, and uploading it for you to use in the courtroom all while the trial is going on!
Final Verdict: Other than the disappointing removal of the video embed feature, all in all, the updated PowerPoint 2013 is well worth the investment. The ability to hook up to the cloud and manipulate your presentation from off-site locations during a live trial is major game changer.
Herb Rubinstein has been involved in computer graphics for over 15 years as founder and CEO of ReGraphix, an award-winning creative house for graphics and design. The past few years, Mr. Rubinstein has taken his presentation graphics experience and applied it to developing presentation techniques for the Courtroom. He has worked with the FBI, DEA, U.S. Customs Service and other government agencies, as well as many law firms across the United States.
Herb Rubinstein is the author of PowerPoint For Court, a Complete Courtroom Presentation Solution. More at PowerPoint For Court
See Also: PowerPoint for Court: Conversation with Herb Rubinstein
The views and opinions expressed in this blog post or content are those of the authors or the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company.
Related Posts
A lot is at stake—power, money, reputation, future plans, justice. You need to win this case. Your presentation materials surely will play an importan...
By Jerry WeissmanSir Winston Churchill, the great British Prime Minister, prolific author, and distinguished orator who addressed some of the most aug...
By Jerry WeissmanMortimer Adler, the noted 20th Century professor, philosopher, and chairman of the Board of Editors at Encyclopedia Britannica, was a...
By Jerry Weissman The legendary Broadway composer and lyricist, Stephen Sondheim, died November 26, 2021, at the age of 91, but his legacy lives on. H...