Can you imagine being able to present in online meetings while maintaining complete control of your presentation and, at the same time, dynamically interact with your audience? Thanks to PowerPoint Live in Microsoft TeamsThis is now a reality. This innovative feature has arrived to revolutionize the way we share and experience remote presentations, for both presenters and attendees.
In this article we tell you how it works PowerPoint Live, which are its advantages, how you can take advantage of all its tools, and why it has become the new standard for collaborative and inclusive presentations in professional and educational settings.
What is PowerPoint Live and why has it changed Teams presentations?
PowerPoint Live is a feature built into Microsoft Teams allowing present slides directly in an online meeting without having to share your entire screen. The revolutionary feature is that it gives both the moderator and the audience a much more flexible, interactive, and inclusive experience.
It's no longer just about showing your content, but about maintain control over the presentation, see attendees, detect reactions, and facilitate real-time collaboration.
Unlike the classic screen sharing mode, PowerPoint Live allows participants to explore slides at their own pace, view automatic captions, activate high-contrast views, and, if needed, translate slides into their preferred language. Best of all, the moderator can remain fully engaged and have access to all meeting tools without losing sight of what's happening in the virtual room.
Key advantages of using PowerPoint Live over other methods
Using PowerPoint Live in Teams is a significant improvement over screen sharing or traditional presentation mode. These are its main advantages:
- Total control for the presenter: View the current slide, the next slides, your notes, audience reactions, chat, and attendees, all on one screen.
- Interactivity for the audienceAttendees can navigate slides, go back if they missed something, and even view hyperlinks and videos without affecting the main presentation.
- Inclusion and accessibility: Automatic subtitles, slide translation into up to 19 languages, high contrast for people with visual impairments, and screen reader compatibility.
- Collaboration and dynamism: Tools such as a laser pointer, pencil, highlighter, and the ability to share control with multiple presenters.
- Low bandwidth consumptionPowerPoint Live requires much less internet than screen sharing, making it the best option for slow or unstable connections.
How to start a presentation with PowerPoint Live in Teams
Getting started with PowerPoint Live is very simple and flexible, as you can start it from different locations depending on your preferences and needs. Here are all the ways to launch your live presentation:
- If you're already in a Teams meeting, tap Share and choose your PowerPoint file from the section PowerPoint Live. File not showing up? Simply select "Browse OneDrive" or "Browse my computer" to locate your presentation.
- If you have the file open in PowerPoint for Windows or Mac, you will see the option Present in Teams at the top of the file.
- From PowerPoint for the web, just click on Introduce and then select Present in Teams.
Once started, the slides will be displayed in the Teams meeting, and if you have notes, they will appear next to the slides just for you.
Moderator View: Advanced Control on a Single Screen
One of the big leaps forward for PowerPoint Live is the informative and centralized view that offers the presenterYou'll no longer have to choose between watching the presentation or the chat, nor will you lose sight of your audience:
- See the active slide, the next or previous slides, your notes, the chat, and the participant list in real time..
- Quickly identify raised hands and reactions thanks to the integrated display.
- Jump to any slide via the thumbnail carousel or using the “Go to Slide” option to select any slide in the set at a glance.
- Share control of the presentation with other presenters, allowing multiple moderators to advance or manage the presentation as needed.
- Take live notes with the laser pointer, highlighter, pencil or eraser directly on the slides, highlighting important parts or visually guiding your audience.
- Configure how your video appears to attendees, using modes like “Highlight” or “Cameo” to enhance eye contact and nonverbal cues.
The presenter never loses sight of the interaction and rhythm of the virtual room, even from a single monitor.This creates much more natural and participatory presentations.
Exclusive tools and features during the presentation
PowerPoint Live offers a set of tools to make presentations much more dynamic, visual and customizable:
- Zoom and panYou can zoom in and out on any area of the slide using keyboard shortcuts, mouse gestures, or the touchpad. Want to highlight a detail? Zoom in and keep your audience's attention.
- Thumbnail navigation: Both the presenter and attendees can fast forward or rewind using the thumbnail strip or the arrow keys.
- Customizable layouts: Choose how your video is displayed within the presentation so attendees see you alongside the content, reinforcing nonverbal communication.
- Chat and reactions: See questions, comments, or reactions from attendees live, allowing you to adjust your tone and respond directly to their concerns.
Live presentations for any audience and device
Thanks to the power of PowerPoint Live, It is possible to reach diverse audiences, both inside and outside your organizationThe presentations can be followed from any device with an internet connection and an updated browser (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, etc.).
The process is very straightforward: when you start the presentation, a QR code and a personalized link are generated. Attendees can scan the QR code or click the link to access it from their device, without needing to install anything additional.
If you're remote or in a hybrid environment, you can also use PowerPoint for the web's Live Presentations mode, which adds benefits like automatic, real-time captioning and the ability to limit who can join (just your organization or anyone, depending on your preference).
Accessibility and inclusive options for all profiles
Inclusion and accessibility are fundamental pillars of PowerPoint Live's philosophy. In addition to automatic translation and subtitles in different languages, anyone with hearing or visual impairments can benefit from the following tools:
- Real-time synchronized subtitles, ideal for noisy environments or participants with hearing problems.
- High contrast views, to improve readability for people with reduced vision.
- Support for screen readers and assistive technologies to ensure that no one is left behind in the presentation experience.
- Customizable navigation and zoom options, adapting the visual content to the needs of each user.
These resources not only increase the reach of your talks, but also reflect a commitment to diversity and equal opportunity.
Real-time feedback and collaboration: Presentation as an interactive experience
Do you want to keep your audience motivated and engaged? PowerPoint Live offers tools for instant feedback and effortless collaboration:
- Live reactionsAttendees can send emojis like "like," "applause," or "confused" to help the speaker understand the mood and state of the room at any given time.
- Submitting Feedback: Anonymous feedback and short surveys can be provided at the end of the talk, allowing for improvements in future presentations.
- Multi-presenter collaboration: Share control of slides with other presenters, facilitating collaborative and dynamic presentations.
At the end of the session, the moderator receives a summary with an overall assessment of the presentation, suggestions, and interesting statistics on the participation and experience of the attendees.
PowerPoint Live has marked a turning point in the way we share knowledge and participate in online meetings. Whether you're a presenter or a participant, you have a suite of tools at your disposal that not only make presentations more fluid and professional, but also cater to the experience and needs of each user.
