We’re testing the functionality of Microsoft’s LiveMeeting webconferencing product for the American Society for Training & Development Puget Sound Chapter. Microsoft uses LiveMeeting for thousands of tech learning events every year. You can record the conference and people can view and hear the content anytime afterward. I’m told they never show video, and I’ve wondered why?
First, keep in mind most people at Microsoft think their PowerPoint slides are pretty good and if they don’t talk too fast, sprinkle an audience involvement trick in once in awhile and throw in some humor, it’s fine. Microsoft actually has a rating system for speakers for awards and prestige. Woot! Problem is, of course, the whole rest of the world is flowing to video like a tidal wave.
We used a high-end camcorder for our “Beta” meeting last week, and recorded the event. When you go to view the recording what do you actually see? No video. If the speaker is walking around the room, taking questions, and we are using the zoom functionality to show the audience asking questions, etc. it stands to kick up the “people” aspect of the event for the remote viewers, yes? But none of this is played back on the recorded version - just the PowerPoint. And let’s say someone’s PowerPoint is just average - lots of wordy bullet point slides.
Well, I encourage even strangers on a bus to read Edward Tufte’s “The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint - Pitching Out Corrupts Within” so I’ll just drop the reference in one more time. Can we say “Screenshot?” How about:
- cartoons
- photos of people
- diagrams
- Google Maps
- Agendas
- Mind-maps
- Pie Charts
I will just put in this “Bravo” for our June speaker, Stephanie Bell, her PowerPoint was above average:
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