Is PowerPoint dead yet?
You don’t have to be in the world of marketing long before you hear someone take a shot at PowerPoint, branding it as an antiquated tool whose days are numbered. But this sentiment is tempered by the reality that more than 500 million people still use PowerPoint and no clear successor or alternative has presented itself.
An article in last week’s WSJ explores the topic yet again, this time accusing PowerPoint of everything from boring students to killing astronauts.
While I acknowledge that PowerPoint has clear limitations (particularly as a live presentation tool), I do think that the easy-to-use, bullet point format holds a simplistic value that won’t be easily pushed aside. Maybe we just need to reevaluate how we use this tool; perhaps exploring how it can be paired with audio and video to create simple presentations that can be easily shared.
But I’m interested to know what you think. Is PowerPoint dead?
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500 million smokers can’t be wrong. Is it just me or is PPT mostly used by people as a crutch who don’t have a clear message and who are incapable of engaging an audience? Skilled presenters don’t need PPT, why do unskilled people present?
Washington DC – 1992 – Dr. Hodgkinson – 7:00 a.m. keynote – International Demographics
Pre-PowerPoint – used 50+ transparencies
Mid-way through a most memorable presentation (one that I remember today) – Dr. H turned to the audience of over 500 persons – turned off the overhead projector and announced…”You are probably wondering why I am using all of these overheads today. It is because I know that you have a 50% better chance of remembering what I say if you see it at the same time as you hear it. This – ladies and gentlemen – is why you will never see a politician use an overhead projector during campaign season!”
Engaging presenters need to appeal to all the senses. Until something better comes along – some form of Power Point fills the visual need in a blended approach of audio, visual and activity to truly engage the audience – and give them a 50% better chance to remember your message.