Powerpoint

Sometimes there is nothing worse during a presentation than a bad Powerpoint. A bad Powerpoint often contains some fundamental flaws that can be easy to fall prey to when first using the program. To start off, an overpowering, ugly color scheme is usually not only hard on the eyes but also difficult to read. Another mistake could be the way the information is presented. There should be a reasonable balance between text and media. A bit of text can help keep the focus of the subject being discussed while visuals like pictures and videos keep the presentation entertaining. A similar issue is the speaker being able to properly talk about the slides. The speaker should acknowledge or mention at least some thing presented on the screen but should not be reading bullet points. This can be very boring and make the speaker come off as unprepared. Misuse  of animation is another big issue. Animation should almost always be quick and smooth. It should enhance the flow of the presentation but not distract from it. Animation that is too ridiculous can come off as rather lame. Finally, its very important that one's Powerpoint is completely functional. This may seem very obvious but it's important to give one's Powerpoint multiple test runs as buttons and media objects can sometimes be faulty. It is difficult to fix when you are presenting.

Aside from all their possible problems, Powerpoints can be a very effective tool to deliver a speech. They are a way of presenting information visually along with speech, which is more likely to teach people who have different styles of learning. When done right they can really enhance information presented. I have had some teachers who could really utilize Powerpoint to improve their lectures. One of the more creative applications of Powerpoint I have seen was at my high school. Teachers would sometimes use Powerpoint to create a game of Jeopardy to review for tests by making a bunch of buttons on a grid. This was a fun way to study with the class as a whole.

Center for Learning & Technology

I was not aware of the CLT until Robert Chapman's talk. During orientation week I had seen the bottom floor of the library that contained a media library but had not adventured further to find it. It appears to be a really great resource for any kind of computer and media work. I especially liked the fact that the computers have a bunch of freeware to take and utilize. Other more expensive programs like Pro Tools at our disposal are very exciting too. I thought it seemed like a real chill environment to work in that wasn't too busy. The availability of 14 Macs and 12 PCs makes for a nice balance. Also the 11 scanners provided are good to know about. The fact that the CLT staff is usually ready and able to help with software and equipment is very valuable. It is convenient for the CLT computers to save any work you do on the harddrive unlike other computers on campus. I felt like a lot of the emerging technology ideas on campus arise from here, such as the video chatting system Robert Chapman described. I have chosen to post a picture of the CLT as my people drawing skills are severely lacking. It was not a pretty drawing.

Photo Manipulation

The news service Reuters published this picture of George Bush writing a note requesting a bathroom break. I chose this picture because it is amusing and also different from many of the other altered shots. Although many might snicker at Bush's need for some time off in the restroom, it is a legitimate request and what is depicted in the picture is in fact real. The photo was altered by overexposing Bush's text on the note to make it easier to read and stand out. I do not think this was harmful because it was what Bush actually wrote. I believe it was an effective use of photo manipulation and a clever technique. The only way the photo could have a negative impact is by making it appear as if Bush was asking an inappropriate question in a bit too obvious of a manner.


This is a pretty cool video demonstrating how to create a drop of condensation. The video adds the droplet of water of to a bottle of Coca Cola. This technique could be used in advertising to make a drink look more appealing or something wet look more realistic.