Much has been made about the importance of the Three Vs of Communication: the Verbal, Vocal and Visual elements that are necessary to make any presentation successful.

So, if someone can hear your voice and your tone sets a relaxing and inviting presence, and you can display a couple of well chosen graphics, then you are bound to have a winning formula for a successful presentation, aren't you?

Wrong. As anyone who is used to creating engaging and informative presentations knows, there are many more sophisticated techniques to add sparkle to your PowerPoint document, for example, than dragging and dropping pictures that can add depth to any PowerPoint.

It's true that very early releases of PowerPoint relied on the power of images and text to give the presenter the edge. Today, with the release of Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2010 on the horizon, verbal, vocal and visual capabilities are truly inspiring.

Along with image editing, Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2010 will include video editing tools, including, for example, capabilities of editing a four-minute video, to fit a 30 second slot. And with a new video player function in PowerPoint, presenters will have even more control over playing and pausing videos in their slide decks. You will now be able to embed and edit video files directly in the program. PowerPoint 2010 will also have the facility to bookmark key points in a video for quick access or trigger animation to begin automatically when those bookmarks are reached. You will also be able to set the video to fade in and out at specified intervals and apply a variety of video styles and effects-such as reflections, bevels, and 3-D rotation-to help you quickly capture your audience's attention.

It's never been easier to build the perfect presentation, and PowerPoint 2010 will even allow more advanced linking to web-based movies from a slide. As it becomes easier to use video within our PowerPoint presentations, it's probably a good time to remind ourselves of the benefits this medium can add to our slide shows.

There are numerous advantages to using video as part of your PowerPoint presentation: Video can convey vast amounts of complex information in a short amount of time; it's extremely useful in circumstances where movement is important; and is a medium which is familiar to almost of us. These days, we are all much more "visually literate" and use visual media to tune in to our entertainment, news, sport.

Video relies on tapping in to our Thinking and Feeling emotions. Using Thinking examples, you could show exactly how a piece of equipment works in a short video during your presentation without using too many diagrams or complicated text. And by recognising Feeling emotions, it is easy to create sympathy or humour and help reinforce our message.

One of video's major advantages is its ability to give a great deal of information in a short amount of time. This can be especially useful during a PowerPoint presentation, when you have tight time constraints and need to present a high volume of technical or detailed information. If you're in a hurry and need to get your message across quickly, the obvious solution is to use a movie.

If you have to present a lot of technical information, it's the ideal attention grabber - all the audience have to do is sit back and watch while the information unfolds on screen. Film is also a multi-cultural medium and narrative can easily be translated into any language.

And how about introducing your company or members of staff in a more animated format? A short film featuring people introducing themselves is much friendlier than a still life gallery with captions on a slide.

The most obvious advantage of using video is that it can bring any product or idea to life in a way words and pictures can't. And even the smallest or most hidden parts of any piece of machinery can be shown easily. Video can take your audience right inside the environment you want to show them. They can see the production process, the workforce, the raw materials and the end product in a few short minutes without leaving their seats - even when the office is closed after hours or at weekends.

Movie also involves the viewer's emotions. Even in a corporate environment, buying decisions - whether for products or services - are often made on an emotional level. The effect of reaching a prospective client with images and sound can be incredibly persuasive.

Unlike using stills or even animation, you have complete control over your message. Your audience is presented with only the information you want them to receive, in the exact order you them to receive your message.

If you want to learn about any of the new PowerPoint 2010 features including the range of video editing functions, then it's advisable to invest on a professional training course.