If you deliver electronic presentations using PowerPoint or other programs, you can manually move send to the next slide with the keyboard or the mouse. One way, however, to deliver more efficient presentations that enhance your association to your audience is to add a remote operate to your presentation tools. What features should you look for when choosing a remote control?
Remote Features
Mouse Bluetooth
Many projectors come approved with a remote but features vary and may not always be easy to use. A better choice is to buy your own personal presentation remote control. When evaluating a remote, look for these features and decide what is important to you:
- Ergonomic and verily fits in your hand. Keep in mind that you might be using the remote for an hour or an whole day. Plus, a smaller remote will normally have fewer and more accessible buttons, fits in your pocket, and is great for travel.
- Simple to use. In most cases, a smaller, ergonomic remote is easy to use but test it before buying. One of my friends loves her small remote which is only about the size of a matchbook. The tradeoff is she needs to press 2 buttons together to make the screen go black, a highlight that does not always work. I was reminded of the significance of an easy to use remote recently when I watched an excellent presenter pull out a huge remote that looked a price scanner gun from Home Depot. As he fumbled with a large panel of buttons, the remote dropped to the floor and broke open with batteries flying across the stage.
- Transmit distance. Remotes operate with three distinct technologies: Rf (wireless radio frequency), Ir (infrared), and Bluetooth. A huge drawback with Ir remotes is that you need to point the mouse directly at the receiver for it to work. Bluetooth remotes use the most recent technology but currently have a maximum range of about 30' while many Rf remotes have a range of 50 to 100 feet. With some remotes, you can have your back to the laptop and move to the middle of an audience. What do you need for your presentations?
- Built-in mouse. Some presenters will sacrifice a bit in size to get a built-in mouse, normally a small button like you see on some laptops. Other remotes have a track ball or a touch pad. I prefer a isolate wireless mouse that I use for portions of my presentations. I find a built-in mouse to be too awkward but it might be great for your purposes.
- Visible laser pointer. If you would like a built-in laser pointer, make sure to test it for visibility and custom engaging it slowly. Some of the pointers have such a small laser dot that it does not show well on-screen. Would an animation be a better way to highlight parts of a slide or a process?
While you can find some remotes at your local computer store or office provide outlet, your best choice may be to find someone who has a remote and try it out. My favorite is the RemotePoint Navigator ( www.rpnav.com ) which is easy to use, fits conveniently in my hand, and gives me up to 50' of movement from my laptop. I've owned this remote for 10 years now but it is still reliable. an additional one great remote for about is the Logitech professional Presenter R800 ( www.logitech.com ) which includes a green laser and a cool timer which vibrates to tell you when your presentation time is up.
There are many other models and brands to consider. Personally, I do not like remotes loaded with tons of features that you might not need; these remotes are typically bigger or more complex to use. Remember, you should be using a remote so that you do not call attentiveness to the technology and your audience can focus on your content.
Practicing with a Remote Control
After you buy a remote, custom with it before you use it. Do not just try it at your desk, you need to also setup your laptop and remote and verily run through your presentation. The first time I did this, the screen kept going black or I would accidentally enlarge to the next slide. The qoute wasn't with the remote. The qoute was that I was keeping my presentation handout in the same hand and accidentally hitting a remote button through the handout. An easy adjustment but not sure if my only rehearsal was in my office. I personally like to choreograph my slide actions into my presentation notes to avoiding finding back at the corner screen to check my location. Or, setup your laptop in the meeting room so you can sight at the screen and still keep the association with your audience.
Practicing with your remote should be a built-in part of your presentation rehearsal to avoid distracting your audience and accomplishing the goal of communicating your message.
Bonus Tips: always bring extra batteries; many speakers turn out batteries for every presentation. To protect your investment, label the remote or put several enterprise cards in the carrying case in the event that your remote is misplaced.
choosing a Presentation Remote control