The Scotsman

Start-up unveils app to ‘level the playing field’ for nervous public speakers

- By HANNAH BURLEY

0 Chris Hughes, founder and CEO of the Present Pal app A presentati­on support app developed by a young Glasgow-based entreprene­ur launched today, with hopes of helping students overcome their fears of public speaking.

Present Pal, a start-up founded by former University of Strathclyd­e student Chris Hughes, released an app which integrates with Microsoft Powerpoint and guides users through their presentati­on using interactiv­e flashcards.

The app aims to “level the playing field” for dyslexic students faced with public speaking tasks, as users can tailor the presentati­on to their individual needs with features such as colour overlays and pop-up bubbles.

It is now available to download on the App Store and Google Play, and students can access it for free through the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA).

Founder and CEO Hughes said he drew on his own experience to create the app. He said: “The idea for Present Pal came about through my own experience­s as a dyslexic student, during which I realised that there is no real presentati­on support available for struggling students.

“The soft launch of Present Pal has given us an excellent opportunit­y to refine and revamp the app in time for university starting. The team and I can’t wait to help as many students as possible.”

DSA needs assessor Adam Tweed added: “Present Pal addresses so many of the anxieties I hear from students when it comes to presenting.

“It combines recommende­d techniques, such as the use of cue cards, with visual adjustment­s, such as screen tinting and font choice, together with easy-to-use presentati­on control.

“Its roots may lie with DSA but this is a universall­y useful solution for anyone who needs to present.”

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