PowerPoint is a widely used presentation software that has received criticism for potentially inducing stupidity in presentations and degrading communication quality. However, others argue that PowerPoint can be used creatively to produce visually appealing presentations. Before PowerPoint, people gave presentations using technologies like magic lanterns, slide projectors, and film strips. In 1985, most presentations were still created on physical slides rather than personal computers, though there was one early DOS presentation program and Harvard Graphics. PowerPoint has since become a dominant presentation software.

1. PresentYourself! Presentation Software

2. An instrument of torture?

3. Torture? Yes! PowerPoint Is Evil Power Corrupts.PowerPoint Corrupts Absolutely. By Edward Tufte Imagine a widely used and expensive prescription drug that promised to make us beautiful but didn't. Instead the drug had frequent, serious side effects: It induced stupidity, turned everyone into bores, wasted time, and degraded the quality and credibility of communication. Wired, Issue 11.09 | September 2003 See also PowerPoint Does Rocket Science--and Better Techniques for Technical Reports

4. Torture? No! Learning to Love PowerPoint . . . PowerPoint makes hilariously bad-looking visuals. But that’s a small price to pay for ease and utility. Although I began by making fun of the medium, I soon realized I could actually create things that were beautiful. I could bend the program to my own whim and use it as an artistic agent. The pieces became like short films: Some were sweet, some were scary, and some were mysterioso. David Byrne, Wired Issue 11.09 | September 2003

5. Before PowerPoint? There was magic! Magic Lanterns! The magic lantern -- the first projector -- has been around since around the 1650s. Soon after its invention it became a showman's instrument. By the end of the 17th century, wandering lanternists were putting on small-scale shows in inns and castles, using a lantern lit with a feeble candle. These shows featured a wide variety of tales including spirits, goblins and devils -- hence the name the “magic lantern.” Where it ALL Began

6. And then there were slide projectors and film strip projectors

7. Situation in 1985?

8. And there were plenty of presentations on slides

9. In 1985, presentations weren’t made on PC’s much, though

10. Summing it up:

11. There was one DOS program

12. Harvard Graphics still exists!

14. And the rest is history!

15. R.I.P