Do we answer the question asked, or do we go beyond that? There are many types of questions and the motivation behind each type is different. Take the clarification question. It is about understanding, or about preparation for the next question. Take the “Would it also apply to or work with” question. It is about … Continue reading "Answering more than the question?"

What a running Cheetah taught me about presentations

  Motion Path animation (Apple Keynote) Animations with Motion paths (link to the video demonstration) The oral presentation surpasses the journal paper in many respects, but surely, one of the key differentiators has to be the use of animation to explain. A method comes alive on your screen whereas, on paper, it is mummified, embalmed in … Continue reading "Animate using motion path or action builds"

Source: Flickr; Author: Steve Webel. “By tongue work, eloquence is gained; By hand work, clumsiness is lost.” People who silently rehearse their presentation looking at the computer screen never become eloquent. People who sit while rehearsing lack naturalness when standing. “Without ugliness, beauty does not stand out; Without salt, sugar would be less sweet.” Without … Continue reading "Scientific Presentations and Chinese Proverbs – part 1"

Take it from me, as a presenter, if you don’t sync, you do not exist. Have you ever wondered why the audience does not pay attention to you, but only has eyes for the beloved PowerPoint slide? Feel like a jealous lover? It’s apple of the eye for PowerPoint and tin ear for you! When … Continue reading "Keep what the audience sees in sync with your speech"

Video on Microphones Microphones – you love them because they extend the reach of your voice, and you hate them because they sometimes create problems: they whistle, they break down, they get in the way… Knowing how to handle them correctly and according to their varied abilities and models is a must for the presenter … Continue reading "Microphones and how they make you sound"

Presentation remotes Presentation remotes are both a blessing and a curse, depending on how easy they are to use and how familiar we are with them. They do free us from having to constantly stand by the keyboard, but misusing them turns off the audience. Strengths and weaknesses of four models are reviewed and advice … Continue reading "choose and handle presentation remotes"

effects without effects When navigating back to an interesting slide during the Q&A session, things do not always happen as the scientist who presents would like them to! Instead of going straight to the place of interest, the desired slide releases its contents, a click, and an effect at a time, as it did during … Continue reading "PowerPoint effects without effects"

In his marvellous little book, “A Ph.D. Is Not Enough”, solid state physicist Professor Feibelman uses a metaphor near and dear to my heart, that of the fugue. “But in giving your talk, you should just tell a story. Its structure should be organic, invisible. Your listeners should be propelled from idea to idea with the … Continue reading "Learning from Peter Feibelman"

Map slide video “Keep to time” is good advice, but how? Since slide contents are the greatest time-consuming factor, it makes sense to adjust them until the presenter no longer faces the approaching wall of time with the fear of crashing into it. However, despite the best of intentions and preventive content pruning, the unexpected … Continue reading "Visible map and invisible shortcuts – navigation tools"