Google Slides adds Q&A feature

Google just launched a new feature for Google Slides that makes presentations more interactive. The update is rolling out globally on iOS and Android applications, as well as the web version of Google docs. Slides is a real time interaction manager, that collects and presents questions from the audience. A URL is embedded at the top of a slide, that the audience can navigate on their smartphones.

After the jump, audience members can post questions, either with their names attached, or even anonymously if required. Any portable device the audience has can be used to pose these questions. Other audience members can see these questions, and vote them up or down. The speaker sees a real time list of questions, with the most voted ones on top.

This helps speakers to gauge audience reactions and mood. The speaker can engage with their audience more, and can understand what are the areas that need to be covered. The audience also benefits at the same time. Those who are shy can ask these questions without having to speak in front of everyone. Everyone benefits from the answers, as against a scenario where the audience crowds around the speaker after a talk, to ask questions in private. There is no need to note down or remember questions when the pop into the mind, these can be asked as and when the audience members think of them.