VISUAL AIDS
F. D. Lewis
Department of Computer Science
University of Kentucky
Visuals can be used effectively in a presentation to progressively disclose your:
- Subject
- Contribution
- Ideas, etc.
They can be slides, transparencies, overheads, or a computer generated presentation
Pictures and Words
Reasoning is done well verbally
Visuals hold one’s attention, so illustrate, clarify, restate, explain, and interpret with transparencies
ears and eyes are indeed different
One’s eye gives information about shapes, colors, surface qualities, spatial relationships
Need a mix - verbal and visual
Visuals are used to illustrate:
- things you cannot describe quickly, and
- where the emphasis should be in a presentation
How Visuals Excel
Abstractions: trends, comparisons, proportions, diagrams, flow
Numbers: equations too (NB. Use 0.74 not .74)
make points clearly and quickly
Trends: line graphs work well
Comparisons: bar graphs
Proportions: pie charts
Diagrams: do not use too much detail and only use standard symbols unless you define them
General: the charts, etc. should be complete. Not much explanation should be needed
JUST INTERPRET - DO NOT EXPLAIN
Unwelcome Items
Tables - Use charts and graphs
Reading - the audience can read
Distractions - speaker or visuals
Conflicts - coordinate verbal with visual
Logos - advertising irritates
as with cliches, avoid like the plague
Tables: charts and graphs are more dramatic
Reading: (point at this line and say ‘right?")
Speaker Distractions: showing a slide too soon, or covering part of one (we want to look!)
NB: use a blank slide with standard background
Visual Distractions: busy background or borders
Conflicts: maintain context of presentation
Logos: or company mottoes and names. These shout commercialism to many of us. It is not free advertising no matter what your company says
Transparency Format
Titles: at least 24 point (44 pt here)
Text: minimum of 18 point (this is 32)
Bold face and upper case are best
Drawings and symbols must be bold
then we can read them easily
Point Sizes: at least 16 point for subscripts, etc.
Symbols & Equations : at least 1/32 size of page
Rules of thumb for size:
- a six-slide handout page should be very readable.
- A diagram (on a sheet of paper) should be readable if you put it on the floor.
Font Lesson: The reason that serifs are put on letters is that so when you read, your eye will travel smoothly across the sentences. Sans Serif fonts make things stand out - they’re staccato.
Qualities to Strive for
Readability - see previous visual
Content - no smiley faces, etc.
Simplicity - one major point each
Little clutter - no more than 8 lines
No distractions - few colors and fonts
make it easy for the audience
Content: no cute pictures, logos, etc. (this probably includes most clip art)
Simplicity: if necessary, break a complicated visual into two parts. Better yet, present modules
Distractions: no more than three fonts or colors in a single visual - BUT, do use them to emphasize points.
General Points:
- Make duplicate visuals when they are repeated. Never search for the visual later in the talk
- Talk for at least 30 seconds per visual
- Number of visuals for a talk = minutes/2 + 4