#28638
Research Points the Finger at PowerPoint
If you have ever wondered why your eyes start glazing over as you read those dot points on the screen, as the same words are being spoken, take heart in knowing there is a scientific explanation. It is more difficult to process information if it is coming at you in the written and spoken form at the same time.
Patty, Anna. Sydney Morning Herald (2007). Articles>Presentations>Instructional Design>Microsoft PowerPoint
#29331
Rethinking the Design of Presentation Slides
Recently, much criticism has arisen about the design of slides created with Microsoft PowerPoint. This web page challenges PowerPoint's default design of a single word or short phrase headline supported by a bullet list. Rather than subscribing to Microsoft's topic-subtopic design for slides, this web page advocates an assertion-evidence design, which serves presentations that have the purpose of informing and persuading audiences about technical content.
Alley, Michael. Virginia Tech (2004). Articles>Presentations>Information Design>Microsoft PowerPoint
#23666
Rethinking the Design of Presentation Slides
Summary, models, and templates of a new design of slides for technical presentations. This design is fully documented in Chapter 4 of The Craft of Scientific Presentations (Springer, 2003).
Alley, Michael. Penn State University (2004). Articles>Presentations>Information Design>Visual Rhetoric
#26457
Rethinking the Design of Presentation Slides: A Case for Sentence Headlines and Visual Evidence 
The traditional design of presentation slides calls for a phrase headline supported by a bulleted list. Recently, many critics have challenged the effectiveness of this design. This article argues for a significantly different design that offers numerous advantages in most communication contexts but that is particularly well suited to technical presentations. Originating at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and refined in more than 400 critique sessions at Virginia Tech, this alternative design is characterized by a succinct sentence headline supported by visual evidence. What distinguishes this design from other visual -evidence designs are its specific layout and typography guidelines, which were chosen to make the communication efficient, memorable, and persuasive. Although more difficult to construct than the traditional design, the alternative design shows much promise as a more effective means of conveying technical information to various audiences. This article outlines the key advantages and challenges of using this design, and concludes by assessing attempts to disseminate this design through lectures, workshops, and the Web.
Alley, Michael and Kathryn A. Neeley. Technical Communication Online (2005). Articles>Presentations>Information Design>Persuasive Design
#20537
Seeing is Believing and Content Counts
Even if you are a confident, seasoned speaker, you still need to connect with your audience with terrific content and visual aids. Knock `em dead with your words and the visual aids you use in order to truly have audiences on the edge of their seats! How can you get a crowd of hungry or tired conference attendees interested in your presentation? How can you stand apart and be remembered out of a series of speakers? Be daring and different. Seek untraditional methods to relate your information. Investigate all your options and all resources. Never rule anything out.
Brody, Marjorie. Presenters University (2002). Articles>Presentations>Visual Rhetoric>Microsoft PowerPoint
#25963
Sending a Portfolio Presentation to a Client
In Photoshop CS there's a new feature that takes a folder full of images, creates a slide show (complete with transitions), and compresses it into PDF format so you can e-mail it easily to a client for proofing. This is perfect for showing your portfolio to clients, sending clients proofs of wedding shots or portrait sittings, and any of a dozen other uses, none of which I can happen to think of right at this particular moment, but I'm sure later today, when I'm at the mall or driving to the office, they'll come to me.
Kelby, Scott. Layers Magazine (2005). Articles>Presentations>Software>Adobe Photoshop
#23367
Strategies for Expanding Program Borders: Communication Modules in Engineering Technology
To improve university-level presentations, students need rhetorical, design, and usability strategies and tools to create effective, professional presentations. By developing a series of three to five modules for science and technology students, Professional Writing faculty could polish materials for use as one-day professional development workshops in the workplace.
Johnson, Molly K. CPTSC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Presentations>Education
#31448
Strunk and White Were Wrong: In Speechwriting, Personality Should Not Remain in the Background
A speech generally needs personal language because it is delivered by a live human being whose words should not sound, as Wabash College Professor William Norwood Brigance put it, "like an essay standing on its hind legs."
Tarver, Jerry. Communication World Bulletin (2005). Articles>Presentations>Rhetoric>Minimalism
#15208
Technical Presentations: From Neophyte to Master 
Discusses ways that technical presenters can improve their speaking skills.
Walinskas, Karl. Intercom (2000). Articles>Presentations
#20520
Andy Warhol once said that everyone will be world famous for 15 minutes. So when that time comes don't screw it up - follow these 10 tips for broadcast success, whether you're talking to Matt and Katie via satellite uplink or your employees via a Webcast.
Yewman, Dave. Presenters University. Articles>Presentations>Streaming>Video
#28714
Review: There Must be Many I's in Today's Small UX teams: Jared Spool at NYC UPA
Jared Spool led the NYC UPA membership in an energetic discussion of user experience successes and failures. Comments ranged widely but centered on three main questions.
Herring, Richard D. Usability Professionals Association (2007). Articles>Reviews>Presentations>Usability
#18531
Three Good Reasons To Stop Using PowerPoint
Quit using PowerPoint? But why? After all, you're used to PowerPoint, it does the job, it's the corporate standard, and you're not a techie trying to impress an audience with your know-how. All you want to do is create and deliver a good presentation with the least amount of effort. Which is precisely the point. If the objective of a presentation is to train, teach, sell or motivate, then good may not be good enough – PowerPoint may not be good enough. Other programs may have better options for illustrating specific processes or techniques, or they may have advantages when it comes to re-purposing the content for distribution via print, CD or the Web. Your time is also valuable, and there may be times when PowerPoint is not the most efficient way to create the visuals you need.
Waldman, Harry. Presentations (2003). Articles>Presentations>Software>Microsoft PowerPoint
#20523
Tips for Presenting to Young Audiences
It was my first year in business and I was 20-minutes into delivering a one-hour presentation skills seminar when it was becoming painfully clear that I was losing my audience fast. With this particular group, the early warning signs were all there. It started with some subtle multi-tasking activity followed by a pronounced loss of eye contact by a few individuals at first and then half the group. If you’ve ever had that experience you know that you only have a couple of options at that point. You can try to pump up the energy level and occasionally re-energize an audience; but, let’s face it, the odds are pretty slim. Or you can always start summarizing, cut your loses and go for a well-scripted close. At least there’s some hope that your audience will, at a minimum, hear a few crisp closing points and an interesting story to tie it all together. On that particular day, I didn’t have a chance to do either. The bell rang at precisely 11:22 and Cheryl Bailey’s third period PowerPoint class darted for the door and I was left standing there (unplugging my projector and laptop) wondering what the heck just happened. It was my first time presenting to a group of kids and since then I’ve had to revise my technique considerably for this unique audience.
Endicott, Jim. Presenters University (2003). Articles>Presentations>Rhetoric>Children
#29146
To Slideware Or Not To Slideware: Students' Experiences With PowerPoint vs. Lecture 
This study analyzes the performance and attitudes of technical writing students in PowerPoint-enhanced and in non-PowerPoint lectures. Four classes of upper-level undergraduates (n = 84) at a mid-sized, Southern university taking a one-semester technical writing course were surveyed at the beginning and end of the course about their perceptions of PowerPoint. Of the four sections, two classes were instructed using traditional lecture materials (teacher at podium, chalkboard, handouts); the other two sections were instructed with PowerPoint presentations. All four classes were given the same pre- and post-test to measure performance over the course of the semester. Traditional lecture or PowerPoint presentations consisted of at least 50% of the course, with the remaining time spent on exercises and small group work. Results reveal that while most students say they preferred PowerPoint, performance scores were higher in the sections with the traditional lecture format.
Amare, Nicole. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2006). Articles>Education>Presentations>Microsoft PowerPoint
#22885
Tools to Trade: Transfer Your Skills to Develop Professional Presentations
Skills of developing and delivering presentations are valuable for both personal growth and professional development.
Pearson, Kent S. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Presentations
#26435
Tutorial on Creating an Explode Effect
In this presentation, you will learn how to create an explode effect on pictures.
Tohlz, Shawn. PowerPoint Heaven (2005). Articles>Presentations>Software>Microsoft PowerPoint
#26433
Tutorial on Fading a Picture to Translucent
Tutorial by tohlz, PowerPoint Heaven. Scenario #1: You wanted to fade in a picture, but not completely. You wanted the picture to fade from 0% until 50% and stops at there. Scenario #2: You wanted to fade out a picture, but not completely. You wanted the picture to fade from 100% until 50% and stops at there.
Tohlz, Shawn. PowerPoint Heaven (2005). Articles>Presentations>Software>Microsoft PowerPoint
#26436
Tutorial on Making an Automatic Slideshow and Delay Before Slide Advances
You need to make some delay so that all your slides will pause for a while before going to the next one. There are few ways to achieve this. This tutorial will cover two simple methods.
Tohlz, Shawn. PowerPoint Heaven (2005). Articles>Presentations>Software>Microsoft PowerPoint
#26434
Tutorial on Spiral Effect for Text
I have experimented many ways to create a spiral effect on text. This requires the overlapping technique. The simplest way is to make use of Pinwheel Entrance effect to do the job, while the best way to create the most realistic impact is to have combination of different effects.
Tohlz, Shawn. PowerPoint Heaven (2005). Articles>Presentations>Software>Microsoft PowerPoint
#29700
Understanding and Using PowerPoint
The relatively new and controversial medium of PowerPoint presentations has generated much casual commentary but little careful analysis or empirical research. This rhetorical study attempts to advance our understanding of the medium and provides practical guidance regarding deck design, rehearsal, and performance. The study considers the reasons for the controversy surrounding PowerPoint, offers a taxonomy of the kinds of content that appear in decks, and looks closely at how presenters interact with individual slides, in particular the way in which they 'synch' to each bullet point and then 'launch' an oral gloss of that point. In addition, the study provides criteria for writing bullet points and suggests reasons why presenters include excess text on their slides.
Farkas, David K. STC Proceedings (2005). Articles>Presentations>Software>Microsoft PowerPoint
#23827
Understanding PowerPoint: Special Deliverable #5
PowerPoint: the software we love to hate. Has there been any other software since the dawn of the personal computer that has earned so much criticism? The question at hand is not, 'Does PowerPoint suck?' The answer to that, as we all know, is yes. The question is, in fact, 'For information architects, does PowerPoint suck?' Or, more to the point, 'Even though PowerPoint sucks, should I use it for my deliverables?'
Brown, Dan. Boxes and Arrows (2002). Articles>Software>Presentations>Microsoft PowerPoint
#20538
Using Videotaped Presentations Effectively
Using videos to sell a service or product or to inspire and inform associates is becoming common for all kinds of organizations. The latest technologies offer endless opportunities at reasonable cost and with professional results, yet nothing can replace the drama and warmth of a live presentation. It's like the difference between live theater and television- no comparison!
#31651
Using Visual Rhetoric to Avoid PowerPoint Pitfalls
Criticisms that Tufte and others have leveled against PowerPoint are not insurmountable defects of the programs themselves. These defects are generally due to an orientation, shared by program designers and users alike, and toward images rather than diagrams, toward perceptual decoration and object indication rather than toward visually mediated, iconic representations of verbal information. Using Peirce's theories of visual rhetoric, we show that improvements in visual communication generally - and PowerPoint slides in particular - depend on shifting our orientation away from image-driven thinking and toward diagrammatic modes of presentation.
Manning, Alan D. and Nicole Amare. IEEE PCS (2005). Articles>Presentations>Visual Rhetoric>Microsoft PowerPoint
#20535
Einstein said, If I can't 'see' it, I don't understand it. When visuals are used, you are more persuasive, you can cover more ground in less time, retention and comprehension are greater and, your presentation is more interesting and involving.
Miller, Anne. Presenters University (2002). Articles>Presentations>Visual Rhetoric>Microsoft PowerPoint
#20528
A Visualizer is Not Just a "Document Camera"
It is known by many names: Visualizer, Visual Presenter, Visual Copy Stand even the misnomer, “Document Camera.” “Document Camera” is the most commonly used name, however they are much more than just a “Document Camera.” And, it is not an overhead projector where you can show documents either. It is truly much more than this. A Visualizer is a 'live' camera that picks up live images and allows you to view them over any display device. The true beauty of Visualizers can be summed up in one word – flexibility. It can be a piece of paper, a transparency, a 3-dimensional object, a 35mm slide, an x-ray or even a large item or person in a room. Quite an amazing and versatile device, and all in live motion.
Presenters University (2003). Articles>Presentations>Technology>Microsoft PowerPoint
