May 11, 2006
I'masplain
Re: PowerPoint vs. Low-Tech Overhead Pages
The overhead is attached to the same technology island as the computer, DVD player, VCR, and whatever else is crammed on there. Everything beams out of the same ceiling projector. When you have a presentation with 57 PP slides, you get to hide behind the technoisland and click the mouse. I say "get to" because a lot of people don't like public speaking and would happily hide in a projection booth and broadcast their slides from there if they could.
If you have just a few sheets of pertinent information, you are freed from the technoisland. You can watch your audience for signs of confusion and tailor your presentation accordingly. I could have put the same information on PP slides, yes. But with the overhead, I can zoom in and out as necessary, and as far as I know, this is not possible with PP. If it is possible, it's probably not as easy. Plus, PP tends to keep you boxed into a particular outline, and doesn't lend itself very well to that tailoring I mentioned.
When you are freed from the technoisland, your speech is audibly more interesting, because you're probably not reading your presentation. When you are freed from the technoisland, your speech is visibly more interesting because you are (hopefully) moving around and being physically expressive.
Another reason to be free of the technoisland is smoothness. Unless you are someone who uses the technology on a regular basis, you will have awkward pauses while you get your presentation going. I went low-tech to make my speech go smoothly and avoid making myself flustered or losing my train of thought while monkeying around with an unfamiliar console.
Using the overhead did not "date" me in this situation, as my professor uses the overhead almost exclusively. It is a class about language. When I give a presentation in a class about technology, I'll be sure to use something more modern. For this particular situation, however, I really do believe low-tech was the most effective way to go. And judging by the reaction to my presentation, I was right.
Your argument is based on being tied to the technoisland. Nice term, but the advent of the infrared remote control in like...'86 allows most PowerPoint users the luxury of a wireless mouse. So technoisland shmechnoisland.
And this business about PP boxing you into certain outlines is something that can be overcome by any mildly creative 6 year old. That's like saying that Microsoft Word tries to box you into certain outlines with the templates it offers for business letters and such. Blah.
I still love you though.
Well, maybe not love, but, you know, think you're great.
Posted by: shank at May 12, 2006 08:01 AMgood points, shank, you saved me a lot of typing. One think I have noticed is that a lot of people get wrapped up in form over function when they start getting techno. My old boss would spend HOURS working on the "perfect" design for a info form. They looked great but were never used.
Posted by: Pete at May 12, 2006 09:31 AM"Most PP users" does not include the users at a state university whose state funding dropped from 75% to 17% in the last decade. We work with what we have in the classroom we're given.
Posted by: Jenelle at May 12, 2006 12:14 PM