Microsoft bought PowerPoint in 1990 for $14 million and presentations changed forever. Here are some ways to keep your audience interested and use PowerPoint for good and avoid the evil presentation.

1. Keep ideas and text to a minimum on each slide.
Instead of copying and pasting an entire block of text onto a slide, take the time to summarize the main points. Now think about spreading those points over more than one slide. Then add a picture that supports the idea on every slide.

2. Animation as emphasis not distraction.
Animation is fun. Unitl there are so many effects on the slide that your audience develops motion sickness. Keep it simple.

3. Slide transitions.
See above.

4. Avoid the canned PowerPoint sounds.
Most of them are too loud and alarming to serve as a positive addition to your slideshow.

5. Text and backgrounds should work together.
Avoid using dark text on a dark background. The same applies to a complex background image - this can make text hard to read.