Visual Being

InfoComm International Presentations Council Webinar

Todd Dunn, CTS — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:39:21 +0000

May 7, 3pm-4pm EDT, SmartSound’s Stephanie Joyce joins us to demonstrate the new features of Sonicfire Pro 5. This is the latest release as well as a new Final Cut plug-in just launched at NAB. Join us to discuss practical applications and basic copyright issues of custom music in the AV world. More about SmartSound here.
InfoComm 2009

Title: SmartSound Sonicfire Pro5 Demonstration
Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009
Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/521459541

Red, White or Blue?

Robert L. Lindstrom — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:33:55 +0000

New color research that studied the perceptual influence of red and blue might be useful when designing presentation images, sets, lighting or even the presenter’s outfit. Might it also explain why we call them red and blue states?

The Complexity Paradox

Robert L. Lindstrom — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:03:27 +0000

I have a bit of advice for any presentation professionals out there who might be listening. It could help you explain to a client, or potential client, why you are so vitally important–or, maybe reinforce your career decision. The next time you face a skeptic who is not sure you are worth the money, or is not resonating to your brilliant ideas, tell them to consider the complexity paradox.

When they say they’ve never heard of it, which they will because they haven’t, explain to them that the complexity paradox is one of the defining attributes of our modern world. Go ahead, lay it on thick. Tell them that it is a phenomenon well-understood by few and poorly addressed by most. They should be hooked by now, so lean back in your chair, look professorial, and say, “Increasing complexity demands increasing simplicity.”

Before they have time to respond with “ah”, “oh” or “hunh?” expand your explanation by telling them that the more complex a system becomes, the simpler the processes for understanding it must be. If they still aren’t with you, whip out a few pithy examples. Explain how we frequently use metaphors to reduce the difficult complexity of one thing by directly comparing it to the familiar simplicity of another. All the world’s a stage. Love is a flower. War is Hell. There goes the ballgame.

Point out how in the hands of a professional simple images can convey complex messages with vivid clarity. That is what charts, graphs and diagrams do when they are well designed. Remind them that physicists and engineers routinely reduce vastly complex equations into simple animations in order to grasp what is happening. The greater the complexity, the simpler the visualization required. You might also explain how psychologists and biologists are trained to identify simple patterns in order to understand complex behaviors. The list goes on. By now they should have the point.

Close the deal with the statement that you are in the business of addressing the complexity paradox. You make the complex simple so that your clients and their audiences understand faster, make better decisions and take more effective actions.

And be aware the real value of citing the complexity paradox is not that it will make you sound erudite or even that it might get you that job. The real value lies in the fact that the world is getting more complex by the nanosecond, and for presentation pros that reality translates into job security.

Best presentations ever??…..

Todd Dunn, CTS — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:53:51 +0000

Here’s a list that’s been around for a while. Landed in my box recently… KNOWHR Blog – 10 Best

………TD

Are you a Presentation Professional?

Todd Dunn, CTS — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:56:16 +0000

Compare yourself with your peers in InfoComm International’s annual Presentation Professional survey. This year it’s shorter, easier and faster to complete. Whether you’re one of many in a corporate setting, or a one-person shop wearing all the hats, see how you compare in the skills you have and the challenges you face.

To thank you for sharing your opinions and experiences, you will receive a free survey report by e-mail.

The survey is at http://infocomm.qualtrics.com/SE?SID=SV_56aKHqv6ZbwQi3O&SVID=Prod. Contact marketresearch@infocomm.org if you have any questions.

Microsoft Office 2007 Feedback Page

Todd Dunn, CTS — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:00:15 +0000

A little birdie told PowerPoint MVP Echo Swinford about the feedback page. We’re not sure where the input goes but at least it’s a place to vent!

Give Us Feedback for Microsoft Office 2007

……………TD

PowerPoint Peace Initiative

Todd Dunn, CTS — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 05:01:53 +0000

………………..TD

Producer Makes A Comeback For PowerPoint 2007

Todd Dunn, CTS — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:13:54 +0000

The public beta has been released. Many folks have asked about Producer since Office 07 came out and for a while the official word was…..not going to do it for PPT 2007. Read about it and find the beta download at The PowerPoint Team Blog.

…………TD

Rick Altman takes a look at Hillary’s slides.

Todd Dunn, CTS — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:44:22 +0000

Can we have a president that does this? Looks like she, like so many others, can use our help! Is Rick just a Republican or are folks at the highest levels of the presentation world idiots?

http://betterppt.com/blog/

…………………TD

New Blog: Breaking Murphy’s Law

Lee Potts — Sat, 10 May 2008 00:40:41 +0000

Following Bob Befus’ recent example (House Warming for Presentation Facts) I’ve also started a new solo blog project. Like Bob’s new blog, it’s continues in the Visual Being tradition of serving the presentations professional but it focuses on a single area of interest. It’s called Breaking Murphy’s Law and it’s about all the things that can go wrong when you’re a presenter or when you are supporting someone else’s presentation efforts. Some recent posts include “Jedi Knights With Frickin’ Laser Pointers”, “Blinded by the Light”, “Don’t Give a Pigeon a Perch to Poop From”, and “The Valium Bubble”. Please stop on by and check it out. I hope you find it interesting as well as useful.