presentation?

Question

Sometimes, technology and visual aids can be more of a distraction than a helpful component to a presentation. Provide an example of this from a business presentation. How could it be changed to be more effective?

Answer 1

Is this your homework?

In general, the rule is KISS (keep it simple stupid).

Many inexperienced presenters think that because they can do something, this means they should. For example, I can animate this text to swoosh in and have audio clips from the "Godfather"... isn't that cool!? This effects have a place, but like any information baring object (web page, chart, etc), these should only be used to emphasize the information.

- Consider the ratio of the amount of information to the amount of decorations or effect, try to keep that ratio more heavily in favor of the information.

- Decorations and effects should enhance the message, not hide it. The decoration should aid in the viewer understanding. Enhancing the presentation is not the same as enhancing the message.

However, decorations and effects can have another important role, they can restore the attention of the viewer. For example, having a joke or funny picture in the middle of a long presentation will bring back those who's minds have started to wander. But, don't do this too much and only when the presentation length warrants it.

Answer 2

Well take PowerPoint for example, some presenters over emphasize and over use this tool to the extent that they just flip the slides without much of their own input, this makes presentations dull. This can be changed if presenters use PowerPoint to guide them through the presentation and not to use it to substitute for their input.
The flipping of slides should not be so obvious as to detract the audience.