PowerPoint 2010 – How-To Convert Your Mouse Into a Laser Pointer

PowerPoint presentations often require pointing out specific parts of a slide to bring attention to important information. While presenters may use a physical laser pointer device, PowerPoint 2010 includes a feature that turns your mouse cursor into a laser pointer for free. Converting your mouse to act as a laser pointer allows you to easily highlight key elements without needing to carry additional devices.

In this blog post, we will walk through the steps to activate the laser pointer feature in PowerPoint 2010. We will cover how to turn it on and off with a simple keyboard shortcut. We will also discuss tips for using your mouse as a laser pointer effectively during a presentation.

Activate the Laser Pointer

Activating the laser pointer tool in PowerPoint 2010 is quick and easy. Here are the steps:

1. Open the PowerPoint presentation you wish to use the laser pointer in. Make sure you are in Slide Show view.
2. To turn the laser pointer on, simply hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard and click the left mouse button at the same time.
3. Your mouse cursor will transform into a red laser pointer dot. There is no need to select this feature ahead of time or make changes to settings.

The keyboard shortcut to activate the laser pointer is CTRL + left mouse click.

As soon as you release the CTRL key, the mouse cursor returns to normal. This allows you to easily turn the laser pointer effect on and off as needed just by holding or releasing the CTRL key.

![Laser pointer cursor in PowerPoint 2010]

Using the Laser Pointer Effectively

Now that you know how to turn your mouse into a laser pointer in PowerPoint 2010, let’s go over some tips to use this feature effectively:

• Keep laser pointer use brief – Avoid leaving the laser pointer active for longer than necessary. Quickly highlight the key element you want to draw attention to.
• Verbally call attention to laser pointer – When highlighting a specific chart, text, or image with the laser pointer, also verbally call attendees’ attention to that part of the slide.
• Use an on-screen movement – Slowly move the laser pointer over the area you want viewers to look at instead of just leaving it static on one spot. The movement helps grab their attention.
• Work through laser pointer “blind spots” – Sometimes as the presenter, the laser pointer may be obscured by your hand or body being in the way. Simply reposition yourself so the audience can clearly see the areas being highlighted.

Customize Laser Pointer Settings

While the default red laser pointer works well, you can customize the color and size in PowerPoint 2010:

1. Select the File tab and choose Options
2. Click Advanced in the left pane
3. Scroll down to the Presentation Options section
4. Next to Laser Pointer Color, select a different color from the drop down menu if desired
5. You can also change the Laser Pointer Size setting just below the color setting

After customizing these display options, the new settings will be reflected the next time you activate the laser pointer during your presentation.

Conclusion

Learning how to turn your mouse into a laser pointer only takes a moment, but can enhance your PowerPoint presentations by allowing you to effectively highlight key elements on each slide. Just remember the CTRL + left mouse click shortcut to turn the laser pointer on and off as needed. With a little practice, you can seamlessly incorporate the mouse laser pointer into your presentation flow.