AI may dominate the technology conversation, but many of the improvements that matter most to PowerPoint users happen one small workflow at a time. In this episode of The Presentation Podcast, Microsoft’s Vice President and General Manager of the PowerPoint Product Group, Derek Johnson, joins Troy Chollar, Sandra Johnson, and Nolan Haims for a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s investment in PowerPoint fundamentals.
Some of the details are amazing. The PowerPoint development team measures file-opening performance at millisecond-level precision, and testing copy-and-paste improvements involves thousands of scenarios. The team is also tackling Franken-decks by reducing unnecessary layouts and formatting complications, while improving everyday workflows with updates to text boxes, SmartArt, and table editing.
There is more coming, including filmstrip navigation for Windows Presenter View. Just as important, PowerPoint users really are being heard. In-product feedback and Reddit discussions help the PowerPoint team identify the papercuts that need attention and where to focus next. It is all part of what Derek Johnson calls “the Renaissance era of PowerPoint.”
Listen on your favorite podcast app, or at The Presentation Podcast site here.
Troy @ TLC