Sunday, March 13, 2005
The (Good) Old-Fashioned Slide Show
OK. I'm showing my age here, but I remember a time when "slide show" meant that an aunt, uncle, cousin, friend (etc.) was going to subject our family to endless slides of their latest vacation. We'd sit in the dark in our living room as the proud presenter showed us an endless array of poor photos of historical monuments and natural wonders. Slide shows were mostly excruciating affairs.
Consider today. The slide show has largely been replaced by video: an endless array of poor videography combined with horrifying transitions and special effects, sadly meant to pepper and punctuate the presenter's perplexing point. Why does Uncle Bill's fat face need to be grinning foolishly and uncomfortably in front of a beautiful waterfall? And why do I need to see this horror?
My point is this: if you're creating a slide show or video -- please consider the audience. Here's one way to tell if your presentation is an exercise in vanity or something that your audience is truly interested in viewing:
Let your audience take control of the slide clicker or video remote. Let them control the pace.
If they're clicking forward rapidly and you feel the urge to tell them to stop because you haven't finished narrating the poignancy of a visual -- this can tell you so much. It can mean that your images are falling short (visuals should largely speak for themselves). It can also mean that you're too long-winded. Or, it could mean that your audience just plain isn't interested.
You can make your presentation much more interactive, conversational, and fun when you let the audience participate. Other than Q&A, giving up control can be creatively refreshing. It lets you look at your presentation with your audience's eyes, which can increase your perspective.
(I particularly like Ofoto Store
for viewing family vacations. You get to post your photos and let your family look at your pictures when they are ready, willing, or able to do so.)
¶ 3/13/2005 11:27:00 AM 
OK. I'm showing my age here, but I remember a time when "slide show" meant that an aunt, uncle, cousin, friend (etc.) was going to subject our family to endless slides of their latest vacation. We'd sit in the dark in our living room as the proud presenter showed us an endless array of poor photos of historical monuments and natural wonders. Slide shows were mostly excruciating affairs.
Consider today. The slide show has largely been replaced by video: an endless array of poor videography combined with horrifying transitions and special effects, sadly meant to pepper and punctuate the presenter's perplexing point. Why does Uncle Bill's fat face need to be grinning foolishly and uncomfortably in front of a beautiful waterfall? And why do I need to see this horror?
My point is this: if you're creating a slide show or video -- please consider the audience. Here's one way to tell if your presentation is an exercise in vanity or something that your audience is truly interested in viewing:
Let your audience take control of the slide clicker or video remote. Let them control the pace.
If they're clicking forward rapidly and you feel the urge to tell them to stop because you haven't finished narrating the poignancy of a visual -- this can tell you so much. It can mean that your images are falling short (visuals should largely speak for themselves). It can also mean that you're too long-winded. Or, it could mean that your audience just plain isn't interested.
You can make your presentation much more interactive, conversational, and fun when you let the audience participate. Other than Q&A, giving up control can be creatively refreshing. It lets you look at your presentation with your audience's eyes, which can increase your perspective.
(I particularly like Ofoto Store
