A system and method are set forth for remotely controlling a presentation from a portable electronic device so as to freeze a slide on a remote projector to permit searching for a desired slide on the portable electronic device and then continuing the presentation when searching is complete. In one embodiment, a switch is provided in a communication layer of a presentation application such that when the switch is turned off, communication is suspended between the portable electronic device and the projector, thereby permitting browsing on the portable electronic device without interrupting the presentation. When the switch is turned on the current slide information is transmitted from the portable electronic device to the projector.