Dual screen - Dual aspect ratio presentation

[Rosnky]

This post has a few different puzzles and I hope that I am overlooking some
obvious answer.

I am working on a show with a series of presentations that speakers create
their PPT presentations themselves and my job is to string them together for
a conference. Not a problem since I'm using PPT 2003.

The challenge:
Due to room configuration and show design, the client wants to have the same
PPT slides appear simultaneously undistorted on a standard aspect ratio 4:3
audience monitors and on a 16:9 plasma screen (full screen).
Since presenters are creating slides with 4:3 ratio, I believe I need to
create a 2nd file with page set-up of 16:9 ratio, and probably readjust text
and photos.
Slides in both files must be advanced in tight synchronization.

Questions:
1. Is there a simple method or add-in that would help to maintain proper
aspect ratio of text boxes and inserted photos and charts when changing page
set-up to 16:9 ratio?

2a. I have a Matrox Parhelia card with 3 outputs. Can this help me in
synchronizing playback?
I suspect that a single file with 2 aspect ratios will be problematic.

2b. Is there a way to advance 2 separate files (on 2 separate outputs)
simultaneously with some add-in?

3. If I use 2 computers and 2 files, is there a reliable software or
hardware solution to advancing 2 computers at same time. Can this method
allow me to jump to different location in show and have both computer track
together?


Thank you for any suggestions!!

Ron
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Guest]

1. Not that I know of.
2a. Not unless the stretched image on the wide screen has acceptable
distortion.
--this may be the easiest solution
2b. Chirag's PowerShow may help:
http://officeone.mvps.org/powershow/powershow.html
3. Yes: D'San Perfect Cue: http://www.dsan.com/CueLights/CueLights.asp
No: you will have to navigate that way (non-linear) on each system.

How much work you will have to do depends on the content of the
slides....text only, w/images, w/video......

I'm sure more wisdom will show up on this one.

................TD

 

[Troy @ TLC Creative]

1. No, just lots of manual adjustment. ALTHOUGH if the template has not been
created, it should be designed with the thought of easily allowing it to
work in both aspect ratios.

2/2b. Again, PowerShow is the only thing currently on the public market, but
if there are complex animations I recommend a multiple computer setup.

3. If using more than 2 computers (ie. back-up systems) I use a series of
Interlink Electronics Navigator remotes. Sync one remote to as many
receivers (one per computer) so one click advances all computers
simultaneously. The Perfect Cue being hardwired to two computers is the
ultimate in reliability (I also own and use one), and the Navigator is by
far the most reliable and responsive remote system I have used for multiple
computer shows (up to 11 simultaneously).

--
Best Regards,
Troy Chollar
TLC Creative Services, Inc.
www.tlccreative.com
troy at tlccreative dot com
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A Microsoft PowerPoint MVP
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