Exactly How Long Has PowerPoint Been Around?

by Dick Mac

I've been working in the legal technology field for over twenty-five years. I think I remember when PowerPoint didn't exist. Today, though, it is as if it has existed since the beginning of time.

Do you think Pontius Pilate watched a PowerPoint presentation of Jesus' scourging, struggle through the streets, and eventual crucifixion? Using PowerPoint's flowchart feature, Pilate could have seen a rather dynamic and engaging slideshow, complete with animation and sound effects.

I wonder if PowerPoint 0027 allowed embedding of media clips. I sure hope it had a variety of Greek fonts.

The Roman marketing or client services department could have used sound bites from the yet-to-be-released "Messiah" and video clips from the forthcoming movie "Jesus Christ Superstar" (which movie holds-up much better now than it did thirty years ago).

Sadly, I don't think PowerPoint was available to them; but, think of getting that plum assignment in 32 A.D. The career I could have built on that!


A couple years ago, Microsoft (owner of PowerPoint) released PowerPoint 2007. The newest version (soon to be replaced by PowerPoint 2010), changed every part of the PowerPoint experience. The basic file structure was changed from a simple binary file to a robust XML format. The features are remarkable and could make the presentation "Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum" a phenomenal and engaging project.

Sadly, PowerPoint is rarely used for anything quite as engaging as the martyrdom of a deity. It's usually about cost analyses, or staffing levels, or corporate mergers, or project implementation.

Recently a PowerPoint slide about the United States occupation of Afghanistan made its way into the press.

It is belittled by dullards (that is, conservatives and other anti-intellectuals) as being complicated. It is laughed-at by people like me who see the point but can't fathom why you would bother creating it. It is lauded by those geekier than me as a true graphic representation of our mission.

No matter what you think of it, it's sure worth a look!



We Have Met the Enemy and He Is PowerPoint at the New York Times site.