PowerPoint presentations can be done with the help of videoconference. However use a PowerPoint slide or other PC graphics only if it is actually going to enhance your presentation. It should not be used as a replacement for notes, but just as a presentation aide for you!

Keep your slides for the PowerPoint presentation as simple as possible by using additional slides rather than crowding information on a few slides. Always maintain a text size of 24 points or larger for easy visibility. It is always better to use plain backgrounds so as to not lose your identity completely. Use pastel backgrounds like blue or green as the lighter the color is, the better the presentation. Accordingly, it is better to use a dark colored text like navy in the PowerPoint presentation. Avoid glare colors like bright orange on the charts as pastels work the best, so long as they are a contrast to the background color.

It is better to use bold font faces like sans-serif fonts in your PowerPoint presentation. However, it is better to stay away from Italics as the slant makes the letters look jagged. Using fine lines and borders in the PowerPoint presentation only take up space on the slide. There is no necessity of adding page numbers, headers and footers on the slides, as they will be too small to read! Avoid placing any matter too close to the edge of the slide, as some systems tend to loose the edges when converted. Practice as much as possible before making your first PowerPoint presentation over video. This s because if you are comfortable with the system, the system appears to be transparent! The most important thing to remember in video conferencing for PowerPoint presentations is, to practice operating the system beforehand so that you can manipulate the image at each end in the conference.

It is a great idea to use introductory slides in video conferencing. You could perhaps assure participants of coming to the right place and time by including a welcoming message on the first slide of the presentation. These slides cycle automatically, which gives you an opportunity to educate and update your audience while they join your event. These intro slides also serve as commercials for upcoming services, events and products while giving hints and previews of the material that is to come. They sort of remind the audience on how to use the technology to interact with the presenters. One thing to remember in video conferencing is that since you will be logged on early on the presentation as the presenter, don't forget to hit the mute button if you are interrupted or if you need to take another call!

There are actually two means of showing computer based information in a videoconference; one is by showing the PC screen as a video source and the other is by sharing real PC data. When the PowerPoint presentation is shown using the PC screen as a video source, the person at the far end sees what's on the PC screen, and not you. Most systems can do this, but some need a separate box called scan converter to change the PC image into the same format as a video image.

In some systems, the image of a PC is treated differently than an image of a person and gives a better quality image. Images of people need a high refresh rate leading to fluid movement. However, PC images are usually still and so lower refresh rates are used to provide a better quality image. The benefit of this method is that so long as you can send it, the far end is sure to receive it!

There are also some systems that divide the bandwidth to provide the far end with both a PC image, and a video image of you. This is applicable in bandwidths above 256 kbps and systems with the capability at each end. Other systems have the ability of sending your PC image as a 'snapshot' or 'still' image where you maintain the live video image of yourself while the PC image is sent as a graphic. The image here is usually of a higher resolution than of the video picture.

When sharing PC data, the PC that is connected to the system sends the data, and not the image, to the receiving system. The advantage here is that the image quality at the far end is as good as the one at the near end. Here changes can be made to the PC application from both sides. The disadvantage is that it works well only between like systems and when PC based systems are used. This data sharing can be set up through a corporate LAN network, rather than through a videoconference network. Theoretically, you have a video conference system for audio and video and a PC at each end to manage the data.