Google’s presentation software, Slides, is getting a decent update today which will allow more interaction between presenter and audience. The introduction of Q&A will allow the audience to ask, as well as vote on questions already asked to ensure the most popular questions get answered.
Users watching the presentation will be able to submit their questions from a link on a Slides presentation on their mobile device or laptop. Once the questions are submitted, they appear on the presenters screen, who can see as other audience members vote by hitting thumbs up on them, hopefully bringing the important questions to the top.
The feature was trialled recently by Shree Bose, a top prize winner at the first ever Google Science Fair, where she won an award for her research on drug resistance in ovarian cancer. Shree used the feature in front of 200 middle school students during a visit to Google’s New York office, who were glad of the opportunity to ask questions anonymously if needed – a boon for the less socially adept among us.
Lastly, for Google Slides users on the web, a new laser pointer option will let you use your computer and a more conventional laser pointer.
