Slide Projector

• Traditional slides work by lining a group of special transparency sheets or slide film around a slide projector. The projector works by shining a bright light through the transparency, which projects the image onto a surface like a plain wall or sheet of paper. The presenter moves the slides manually. There are many different slide projectors; carousel projectors that arrange the slides in a ring, and overhead projectors often seen in classrooms, are two examples.
  
  

Slideshow Software

• Slideshow software, such as Powerpoint, Picasa and Photo Story, are computer programs that allow you to create computer-based slideshows. In these programs you create each slide on the computer, adding text and art digitally, using the program's tools. When you are finished creating your slideshow, you can connect a laptop computer to a digital projector and open your slideshow. Then you can control your slideshow with the computer, and the projector will project each slide in a way similar to a traditional projector. This type of slideshow has multiple applications for many types of presentations where you need to show visual information to go along with your speech.
  
  

Movies

• Many computer programs allow you to create movies with your slideshow, if rather than giving a presentation, you simply want to show a collection of pictures. Some common software programs that allow you to make these sorts of movies include Animoto, Apple's iDVD and Wondershare's DVD Slideshow Builder. You can include music with these types of slideshows as well as add special screen wipes to make the slideshow popular. These kinds of slideshows can be nice for gatherings such as reunions or weddings where the slides do not need to be accompanied by any sort of speech.
  
  

Websites

• Slideshows can be Internet-based as well, appearing on blogs or websites. You can use computer website languages like Flash and Javascript to encode your website to change the photos in a set pattern for a person viewing the site. These slideshows can either be directed by the viewer or changed automatically, depending on your preferences.