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Communicating Using Technology
Vol. 2 Issue 23 November 11, 2003
Published and Copyright by Dave Paradi
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In this issue:
Major Media Coverage
1. Using Images on Slides
2. Quick Start of Your PC
3. Useful Resource - Google Tips
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The cover page of the current issue of Canadian Business
magazine features an article on PowerPoint usage where I am
quoted a number of times and the recent survey that 159 of
you participated in on what annoys people about bad
PowerPoint presentations is mentioned (the article starts on
page 131). If you know of someone who needs to improve their
PowerPoint presentations, forward this link to the article on
the Canadian Business web site to them.
http://tinyurl.com/ufv1
1. Using Images on Slides
Last issue we talked about using the IrFanView tool to
improve the quality of your images in PowerPoint slides or
Word documents. Loyal subscriber Dick Larkin passes on a
great tip to add on to what we discussed last week. In
addition to getting the best quality image, he suggests that
whenever you use an image/photo/web screen shot on a
PowerPoint slide, that you highlight what you want people to
look at. He makes an excellent point. Many times we put an
image on the slide and when we show it, we either walk to the
screen and try to point out what we want the audience to
focus on (which blocks some people from seeing what we are
pointing out) or we use a laser pointer and wave it all over
the screen. A better approach is to use a callout arrow to
point to the important item or put a box or circle in a
contrasting color around the important part. An even more
advanced technique is to use a graphics program to cut out
the most important part of the image and create a second
slide with a larger view of just that most important part of
the image on it. In this way you are zooming in on the part
of the image you want the audience to see. You can even use
a zooming slide transition to make it look like you are
zooming in if you want to. Don't be afraid to create another
slide if it increases the audience's understanding. Remember
that I have always said: "People don't want your message to
be the technology you use, people want you to use technology
to help them understand your message."
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Avoid the Mistakes Most Presenters Make Using PowerPoint
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that the best presenters use to create and deliver PowerPoint
slides that people listen to and act on. "You are a
tremendous resource for any speaker." John Plank, creator of
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http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=52955
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2. Quick Start of Your PC
If you are using Windows XP, let me share a technique I have
been using now for a few months that allows me to start my PC
a lot faster. At the end of the day, instead of shutting
down your PC, put it in Hibernate mode. When you start the
PC again, it goes back to where you were very quickly. You
can even leave applications open and it will go back to the
state you left them in. To put your PC in Hibernate mode,
click on the Start button, click on Turn Off Computer. Then
hold the Shift key down, this turns the Standby button into a
Hibernate button, which you click. This technique is better
than Standby when you are travelling with a laptop because it
uses up less battery power and your laptop can still come on
quickly at a security checkpoint or when you want to get a
few minutes of work done. The only problem I have had with
this technique is when I move between different networks
where I need to get a new network IP address. In Hibernate
mode, it assumes you still have the same IP address and when
you connect to another network, it may cause an IP conflict
with another computer, essentially causing you to restart
both computers. But other than that issue (which most of you
don't have to worry about I am guessing), I have found it
works great to get me up and running quickly each time I
start my computer. Now I still do a full shut down about
once a week so that anything that has gone wonky due to
software issues gets reset, so I am not suggesting you never
do a full shut down, but it can speed things up a lot.
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Who else wants to sell more and boost their career with
better PowerPoint slides? Learn an easy 13-step process in
under two hours with this e-book. Click on this link:
http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=45805
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3. Useful Resource - Google tips
Google (http://www.google.com) is the number 1 search engine,
with almost half of searches running through Google in one
way or another according to recent surveys. PC Magazine
recently published a great article on how to better use the
Google search engine. It includes tips on how to search for
links to a web site, how to search for words in just the
title of a page and much more. If you are among the millions
who use Google on a daily basis, then I highly recommend you
check out this article. Here is the link.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1306756,00.asp
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Would you like me to speak to your professional association
or chapter event? I am always looking for opportunities to
share my information with others and would consider speaking
to your group if you are in or near the following areas:
Rochester, NY, Buffalo NY, Detroit, MI, Cleveland, OH,
Pittsburgh, PA or Toronto, ON. Just e-mail me at:
dave@communicateusingtechnology.com for more info.
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Check out the books, e-books and other learning tools at:
http://www.communicateusingtechnology.com/tools.htm
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