Transitions such as a dissolve can be applied to appear from the top down, bottom up, left to right, or right to left. Many fancy effects are included, but these are completely out of place in a scientific presentation. Whatever the transition you decide on, use it consistently from one slide to the next.
You can also apply a build to your presentation. Instead of having the entire slide show up all at once, it can build. The first view will show the title only; succeeding bullets are then exposed to the viewer one at a time. Previously exposed bullets still remain on-screen. The build adds a dash of suspense and a little action to a motionless format. Although builds add interest to a presentation, limit their use only to what works well. If used for every slide, the build also becomes tedious. You can set the timing to take place automatically between the display of one slide to the next to allow you exactly enough time to talk through the material, or you can control the display from slide to slide by clicking the mouse.
Features like these allow electronic slide-show programs to offer many ways to improve clarity and add interest to a presentation.
When using electronic presentations, it is wise to carry a set of slides or overheads with you in case of problems. Electronic gadgetry doesn't always work, especially if you get stuck with a technician who doesn't really know how to run the equipment.
