ER = No More PowerPoints ?

[tangomonster]

In last night's episode of The Office, they showed Michael (the 40ish boss) being resistant to learning PowerPoint as his younger boss was insisting on. It suddenly occurred to me that one of the best aspects of ER is not having to sit through another inane PowerPoint presentation ever again! At least---I think so. I can't imagine where I would have to watch one anytime soon.

It's not that there is anything wrong with PowerPoint per se. Just that because it's more fun and easier to use than old slide show presentations, people used them more than what was needed. Something that could have been said in 5 minutes took 20 with the PP visuals. It seemed like PP was inspiring and convincing people that they could be creative, even when there was nothing substantial to show on the PP. And I never got the handouts of the PP while the PP was being shown.

So while I love the lack of stress and the time freedom, another wonderful aspect of ER is not watching any insipid PP presentations!

 

[maddythebeagle]

And I never got the handouts of the PP while the PP was being shown.

lol...good thread...I think the handouts were so that you could take it back to your office to relive the experience...over and over again

 

[ERD50]

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-ERD50

 

[travelover]

Yea, when I worked for Megacorp, we always used a PowerPoint presentation when we had bad news and never gave out handouts.

 

[Sandy]

Our office requires PP for every presentation or meeting. Ugh!! They started with the concept that there are visual and auditory learners. To ensure that both types get the message, the information is spoken and shown - a clear example of a good idea taken to bad extremes.

At least we are pretty good about how we use it and don't put 15 - 20 lines on each slide...

 

[bssc]

My friend has been retired for 5 years and I still get Powerpoints from him, but mostly collections of pictures (such as a new bridge in France). But he must still have it on his computer to send it on.

 

[Nords]

Our office requires PP for every presentation or meeting. Ugh!! They started with the concept that there are visual and auditory learners. To ensure that both types get the message, the information is spoken and shown - a clear example of a good idea taken to bad extremes.

Maybe they should provide printouts for the visual readers. With CDs for the computer-savvy. And what about acting out shadow puppets for the kinesthetic learners?

Last night I was archiving a set of 10-year-old PP briefs that my spouse used at an anti-submarine warfare training command. The military's senior officers are finally starting a PP backlash-- claiming that it's stifled creative thinking & quick response-- and I was painfully reminded why.

 

[W2R]

Even better than not having to watch any more PP presentations, will be not having to give any!!! No more Toastmasters, either, or last minute presentation "requests"(demands). It will be great.

Like the song, "'I'm already gone...And I'm feeling strong...I will sing this victory song..." I really AM already gone, at least in my dreams.

 

[Raygun99]

You just gave me the top reason to want out so badddddd. Reason #2 is the creative spin we have to come up with for revenue projections that never hit. xxV % over xx% Marketing Math.. You can never have real news.

 

[donheff]

Powerpoint is Evil by Edward Tufte -- says it all.

 

[Achiever51]

Excuse me if this has been posted previously, but I think it is priceless:

The Gettysburg Powerpoint Presentation

11/19/1863


And now please welcome President Abraham Lincoln. Good morning. Just a second while I get this connection to work. Do I press this button here? Function-F7? No, that's not right. Hmmm. Maybe I'll have to reboot. Hold on a minute. Um, my name is Abe Lincoln and I'm your president. While we're waiting, I want to thank Judge David Wills, chairman of the committee supervising the dedication of the Gettysburg cemetery. It's great to be here, Dave, and you and the committee are doing a great job. Gee, sometimes this new technology does have glitches, but we couldn't live without it, could we? Oh - is it ready? OK, here we go: Gettysburg Cemetery Dedication

 

[Donzo]

I hated powerpoints!
Being w/ mega pharma everything had to be looked at by legal to make sure no claims were being made that would land us in court.......BUT -- overheads were a major PITA!
I remember one time presenting to a large group of Drs....and my notebook of overheads fell to the floor and spread out. That was a D'oh moment - fortunately - the group found it funny and it all worked out.
I must admit I held on to overheads as long as I could -- even w/ air conditioners blowing so hard at some meetings that I had to put a coffee mug on the transparency to keep it from blowing away .....sorry techies

 

[Sandy]

Maybe they should provide printouts for the visual readers. With CDs for the computer-savvy. And what about acting out shadow puppets for the kinesthetic learners?

Print outs: yes, always done

CDs: only for conferences

puppets: Maybe I'll suggest it. Might show up in our annual oscars, where we poke fun at ourselves

 

[samclem]

Overheads were superior to Powerpoint presentations in two important ways:

1) Especially if the overheads were ugly "geasepencil on acetate," it was highly likely that the individual giving the presentation actually wrote the words on it, and that they were genuinely his own ideas. And they could be changed immediately.

2) As an audience member you have no way of knowing how many slides are in a Powerpoint presentation that is about to begin. OTOH, if the briefer has a 5" stack of overheads (or two slide carousels), it is easy to see what is about to happen and duck out before the [-]Lusitania leaves the dock[/-] briefing begins.

 

[Olav23]

Wow! A shoutout to Tufte! You people know your stuff

I actually attended a Tufte speaking engagement, and he went on a tirade against PP. A small geeky man burst out of his seat and started mocking Tufte. Shouting accusations and offenses.

A burly security guard appeared from nowhere and escorted the man out of the hall. This was in front of about 500 people.

Later, Tufte explained that everytime he gives a talk, Microsoft sends a "plant" to disturb the peace! This is apparently a common occurence. Crazy!

 

[TargaDave]

However silly PP's tended to get I still think those detailed Gantt charts are the ultimate corporate farce. No MS Project on my laptop ever again

 

[donheff]

However silly PP's tended to get I still think those detailed Gantt charts are the ultimate corporate farce. No MS Project on my laptop ever again

Gantt charts in the Powerpoint presentation = double the fun. I always got those in my project status meetings.

Man it is good to be ERd.

 

[UncleHoney]

Just for grins I did my retirement party presentation in PP. Nothing like one last shot at boring the crowd.

It actually was well received for the simple fact that the audience didn't have to do anything except watch. Thirty eight slides with real photographs of past projects and nothing to read except a project name and date on each. I went through the slides in about 20 minutes and nobody fell asleep or got bored.

 

[ziggy29]

Even better than not having to watch any more PP presentations, will be not having to give any!!! No more Toastmasters, either, or last minute presentation "requests"(demands). It will be great.

Isn't that the truth. I just had to give one -- to a VP, no less -- a couple days ago. At least it was only ten pages and there was more general discussion and Q&A than just a mind-numbing rehash of what was in the presentation.

But nothing -- not even Powerpoints -- scream "corporate drone" more than Gantt Charts. Nothing.

 

[Bobbi]

PP & conference calls

At my Megacorp, very long conference calls coupled with powerpoints were the norm. Right before my departure, a new practice erupted: people emailed around MP3 files of completed conference calls, in case you missed it or wanted to relive the magic!

 

[ziggy29]

At my Megacorp, very long conference calls coupled with powerpoints were the norm. Right before my departure, a new practice erupted: people emailed around MP3 files of completed conference calls, in case you missed it or wanted to relive the magic!

For us, it's a recorded WebEx or LiveMeeting session. I was so disappointed about missing that meeting that I can't wait to relive the glory!

 

[Nords]

Excuse me if this has been posted previously, but I think it is priceless:
The Gettysburg Powerpoint Presentation

I'm really glad to read this, but man I'm even happier I never saw this during my working years. It would've killed my Protestant-work-ethic morale even faster than learning how to surf.

What's especially galling is that (1) Norvig didn't need to add much to the autocontent generator and (2) Microsoft sends shills to heckle Tufte's talks...

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

I thought it was a great idea when Scott McNealy "outlawed" powerpoint presentations at Sun. Seems to have not positively affected the company though.

I remember my first couple of presentations at Powerpoint crazy megacorp. I was scheduled to give a talk to a room full of people and provided 3 slides with 4 bullets on each for a 2-3 hour talk. I was thoroughly assured by the young lady that there was NO WAY that I could speak to 12 bullets for several hours, and she was immediately proven wrong. Then she took me out for drinks, but thats another story.

After another 2 foil, six bullet "presentation" for a meeting I ran the following week, I was told by my boss that I needed to produce at least one foil for each 15 minutes of meeting. And give out the presentations BEFORE the meeting. Taking away the surprise took away half my joy. Having to figure out what I was going to say before the meeting took place took away the other half

 

[kcowan]

There was a contest run by Computerworld to add the caption to the cartoon. The cartoon depicted a guy in a suit standing in front of a bored looking male, with his laptop open and speaking in an animated fashion.

My contest-winning caption:
"If you'll buy right now, I promise not to show you the Powerpoint Presentation!"

 

[Gotadimple]

What!?! No PP Slides??

Or, even better . . .

Dismay, disgust, disbelief (Triple-D Effect) when you show up and make that 15 minute presentation without handouts! People really have to listen to what you're saying? How productive is that