The Powerpoint Problem

This NYTIMES article articulates several important problems with powerpoint as a communication medium. In the hands of a genius communicator - like Thomas P.M. Barnett, Powerpoint can be entertaining and informative. It certainly helps if the speaker knows his material and feels passionate about it. But in almost all cases it has reductive effects on communication - a clear case of diminishing returns.

Powerpoint is a medium with its own rules, and it proscribes ideas accordingly. Concepts are factored down into Icons. Thoughts become bullet points. When one listens to a public speaker, a fairly high level of engagement is in needed - we search the speakers face for micro-expressions, we tune into the voice to hear inflections and nuances. Powerpoint turns the live theater of a public speaker into a visually dull movie that reduces our engagement - the human face is constantly changing - the powerpoint slide does not. And when the slides are turned on, we know that a script is being followed - there is less room for improvisation, and surprises become less likely.

Barnett's use of powerpoint is far more engaging - he's really a master of the medium, which means that he understands when it serves his material and when it does not. First of all, he is lit, so we can see his face as well as the projected screen. When the audience is bored with what is on the screen, they can see his face. He conducts the animated material with his hands - the "who gets the children sequence" . He uses body language to illustrate the plight of the submarine commander without an enemy. He surprises the audience with a "Law and Order" music cue. He brings jokes. My only critique of his TED talk is that he needs to hire a graphic designer - who could also go to town on his website.

But the key is that he doesn't let the medium dictate the message. Most people let the Powerpoint tail wag the information dog. Five bullet points make a nice composition on the screen - so if you only have three, think up two more. Let's try several fonts and colors. Let's force the audience to watch this animation that I spent so much time on - even if it interrupts the flow of the presentation.

Since the cave paintings at Lascaux homo sapian has been trying to get its ideas across using visual aids. Its never been about the slides or the pigment you smear on the walls of the cave - if you don't have anything to say, bells, whistles, and powerpoint will only make it worse.