Comments on: Powerpoint as a medium

By: Kibbles ‘n Bits | Links for Today

Kibbles ‘n Bits | Links for Today — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:10:37 +0000

[...] the work of the devil. “Powerpoint is becoming an effective medium online. [...]

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:30:34 +0000

Leaving the Powerpoint-is-evil debate aside, I suspect some of the slide set’s popularity comes through people like me, who are trying hard to gather information that will convince management that web-based communication isn’t all porn and dating. Yes, some of us are still rambling out of the gate. I thought the slide show trenchant. Any chance you’ll set it free and turn on the downloads at SlideShare?

By: Warren Harrison

Warren Harrison — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:28:54 +0000

@Jeff – do your slides say exactly what you say verbally? If so, it’s doom.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:14:34 +0000

I was just going to agree with Adrian; that was my immediate thought!

“Powerpoint is Evil!”
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2.html

By: Tobe

Tobe — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:51:07 +0000

PPT can be effective online because the reader controls the presentation. No need to sit through a redundant droning speech that beats to death what the reader quickly processed. When you’ve read the slide, click, move forward. I did the “Evelyn Woods” version in a few minutes. Of course I’ll probably flunk Professor Jarvis’s pop quiz.

By: Jeremy C.

Jeremy C. — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:48:02 +0000

Sean makes a good point about the slides not standing on their own without narration. Why not throw your voice over top of it in an easy video a la Lessig?

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:29:36 +0000

Hmmm…i would have to disagree with this one. One being i personally dislike Powerpoint. Two, I work in advertising and I don’t agree with the implied definition of an ‘effective medium’.

Just because 1,850 people have viewed it doesn’t mean it was effective. How many people viewed the presentation and how many understood it are two different things. An effective medium engages people and more importantly it communicates the intended message. The fact that you need narration and discussion to communicate your presentation’s ideas to work well already demonstrates the failing of Powerpoint as an ‘effective’ medium.

By: Adrian Monck

Adrian Monck — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:20:49 +0000

Edward Tufte will make you wash your mouth out!