Intention

Presentation aids are the resources beyond the speech words and delivery that a speaker uses to enhance the message conveyed to the audience…. must be a direct, uncluttered example of a specific element of the speech (Tucker 2018, p. 165)

I distinguish between speaker aids (an outline or notes for the speaker), and complementary media (a visual or audio complement for the audience). A deck can serve one or both.

Function

A deck can:

• improve audience understanding
• clarify
• aid retention and recall
• add variety and interest
• enhance the speaker’s credibility (Tucker 2018, ch. 9)

Features

• charts (statistical, flow)
• decision tree
• graphs (line, bar, pie, pictograph)
• diagrams
• maps
• photographs and drawings
• media recordings
• objects and models
• people and animals
• interactive elements (e.g., polls)

Graphics

Fontawesome

💗🐶

Usable images

Use licensed or public domain images, especially in professional contexts.

• ic: Openverse (Creative Commons)
• iw: Wikimedia Commons
• if: flickr
• ip: Pixabay
• iu: Unsplash

Straw poll

https://strawpoll.com/how-feeling

Tips

A deck should

• be an aid and complement, not a crutch
• be clear and simple
• be LARGE and easy to read
• be well-timed 🕘
• have alternative versions

7x7 rule

(len(lines := slide_content.split("\n")) <= 7 
    and all(len(line.split()) <= 7 
    for line in lines))

. . .

No more than 7 lines; each line has no more than 7 words. (Tucker 2018, p. 191)

Cautions

• test in presentation context
• cite and link to your sources of media
• beware that some people are sight or color impaired
• don’t turn around to face the screen
• prepare for failure:
  • keep a deck backup and in the cloud
  • have handouts or alternative versions
  • prepare to describe media
• don’t ignore transitions, milestones, connections, etc. (Tucker 2018, p. 198)

e.g., Christian Rudder

“Styles, Trends, and Trendsetters”

including:

• Takahashi Method: text only
• Godin Method: images only

(Osborne 2009)

Lessig method

100+ slides of a single word, phrase, image

Pecha Kucha

• Pecha Kucha: 20 slides, 20 seconds each
• Ignite: 20 slides, 15 seconds each

Tufte??

• What was his argument?
• What case/examples did he use?

Slides “dilute thought”

• in 1993 at IBM, Gerstner’s turned off projector and said “let’s just talk”
• in 1986, engineers’ 13 slides/tables failed to prevent Challenger disaster
• Peter Norvig’s deck version of the Gettysburg Address

Slideware helps speakers to outline their talks, to retrieve and show diverse visual materials, and to communicate slides in talks, printed reports, and internet.

And also to replace serious analysis with chartjunk, over-produced layouts, cheerleader logotypes and branding, and corny clip art. That is, PowerPointPhluff. (Tufte 2003, p. 3)

Consider: Cancer survival rates: tables, slopegraphs, barcharts

Wrap up

• Did you notice this deck’s flair?
• Was it helpful or distracting?

• Which of the media features are you likely to use in the future?
• Which are you most likely to avoid? ▶