The History of Powerpoint Software

The ability to make a convincing presentation can make or break a business deal.

A professional business image is important. If you appear unprofessional, individuals and businesses are less likely to take you seriously. The ability to make presentations is an important aspect of business. PowerPoint software was created with that thought in mind.

History

Forethought Inc. developed PowerPoint software for Apple's Mac in 1984. The first version of PowerPoint became successful, and caught the attention of Microsoft's Bill Gates. Microsoft purchased Forethought in 1987. Microsoft continued to develop the software, and as of 2010, it is one of Microsoft's most popular programs.

Function

Forethought Inc. sought to provide business people with a program for creating business presentations. The result was PowerPoint, a program for creating slide shows and presentations. The information was viewable on the computer, printed as a hard copy or projected onto a screen. Microsoft has retained these features. The software also has word processing, graphing, charting and drawing capabilities.

Features

PowerPoint's features have evolved since its 1984 inception. The 2007 version introduced Themes and Quick Styles. These features save time by providing pre-formatted design options for slide shows and presentations. In the past, it was necessary to manually make sure all pages of a document matched.

Warning

PowerPoint is not word processing or graphics design software. It doesn't replace the need for programs such as Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop. It's best to use the appropriate program for the type of project you want to create.

References

• The History of Computing Project: Microsoft
• The University of Rhode Island: What is PowerPoint
• Microsoft Office: What's new in Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007