Google Slides Launches New Q and A Feature

Google has just announced a slew of upgrades to its internet-based alternative to Microsoft's office application 'Powerpoint' just in time for the Teacher Appreciation Week. The big update includes a feature enabling members of the audience (particularly the shy ones) to post questions in the presentation. The slide presentation will have more presentation options on iOS and, interestingly, a laser pointer.

According to Venture Beat, the Q&A portion allows speakers to gather real-time queries, feedbacks, and comments from the audience. Using the link that appear on the slides, viewers can post their questions from their smartphones, laptops, and tablets. In addition, audience members can also vote on the questions which they think badly need an answer by clicking on a thumbs up or thumbs down option.

"Because audiences can now vote 'up' and 'down' on questions, this allows presenters and audience members to interact in a new way," says Google rep Brooks Hocog of the app as quoted by EdSurge.

As per 9 to 5 Google, the feature is specifically designed for people who feel too nervous to throw questions at the speaker in person. They may also post the questions anonymously or with their name and pic. To make sorting out a little easier, questions have 300-character max.

Also, a 'laser point' tool has just been added to the slide presentation. The mouse pointer basically turns into laser point as a presenter tries to point out some important content onscreen for the audience to know according to Engadget update.

Presenting the new Q&A feature in public is Google's first ever Science Faire winner Shree Bose who currently studies at Harvard. In her presentation, Bose believes that such technological updates on Google's web-based applications make teaching more efficient and interactive.

In her recent interview with EdSurge, she noted that Google's Q&A feature "takes away the fear of asking questions, especially when you're lost and confused in class."