These days everyone seems to need presentation skills, especially for job interviews and pitching for new contracts.

Even schools are asking pupils to prepare presentations to deliver to their classes.

Technology can make this formidable task easier but would you know which piece of equipment to buy and how to use it?

Presenters should try to get hold of a folding projection screen.

The most portable sort has a sprung wire frame and folds flat for easy storage.

Remember - a display screen will focus the audience's attention and allow you to speak in front of an appropriate backdrop instead of a wall-speckled with grubby marks and unidentifiable stains.

Be warned, it is one thing letting a sprung screen out of its bag and something else entirely to put it back inside again.

I managed to pin three colleagues against a wall when I first let the Flexion screen out of its neatly stitched circular cloth case.

Four of us struggled to get it under control again.

My advice is to read the instructions very carefully before you start and pray that the force is with you!

evolution tested the Flexion Screen from Acco (priced at £244.95), which measures 1220mm x1220mm.

Acco also offer a smaller version priced at £149.95 which measures 600mm x 800mm.

Both are great to use and equally hard-wearing.

These days, overhead projectors seem to be going out of fashion in favour of LCD projectors which connect to a computer and can deliver a full multimedia presentation exactly as seen on the computer screen.

Not everyone has access to an LCD unit but those who use them regularly would definitely not go back to an overhead projector.

This may be because they are superb for watching DVD movies!

LCD projectors need to be bright, lightweight, easily focussed and, above all, reliable.

Ideally, look for a multi-voltage model that can be connected to a PC, Mac, DVD or Laser Disc, VCR, Camcorder, digital camera, CD-Rom and Soundsystem.

Top-of-the-range models offer connectivity to more than one source, making it easy to switch between presentations on more than one laptop computer.

Projectors are rated in ANSI Lumens.

Ultra-portable projectors have a rating of around 650 ANSI Lumens while office-based units can deliver as much as 2500 ANSI Lumens.

A projector with a low ANSI Lumen rating will not throw out as much light as a high-rated unit and is only for short-range viewing (a presentation in a small office).

evolution tested the Proxima Ultralight LS2 (above).

Priced at £2,390, this is a relatively cheap unit which will do the job you ask it.

Also tested was the 1100 ANSI Lumens ASK Proxima M5 (£3,990, below left).

This projector offers exceptional image quality and full compatibility with PC desktops, portables, Apple Macs and PowerBooks.

The unit supports full-screen images from virtually any notebook or desktop computer and comes complete with Proxima's Laser F/X(tm) remote control with built-in laser pointer and mouse control.

Optical pointers powered by laser sources are now becoming commonplace but few people know what to look for when buying one.

Many of these pointers are described as Class 1 or Class 2 laser sources, meaning the power output is not more than one milliwatt.

Class 1 lasers are supposedly safe under all circumstances and, for Class 2 lasers, the blink reflex of the eyes provides adequate protection in case of accidental exposure.

Expert opinion is that "laser pointers up to about five milliwatts output offer little hazard to anyone when used responsibly."

evolution tested the class 2 NOBO LaserLyte Executive with a range of up to 600 metres.

Priced at £74.99, it offers reliability, safety and all the power you will need.

ASK: 01628 666622 Acco & NOBO: call any good office equipment supplier