Now, simply head over to the new dedicated Office Online landing page and hop right in to Word, Excel, PowerPoint or OneNote. PowerPoint is effective at providing supplementary information, like simple, colorful graphs or other relevant imagery, but should never be the main source of information. Barred from this knowledge, the Soviet Union turned to espionage for information. In the latter case especially, really focus on letting your words do the explaining, in particular when it comes to persuading them on any complex ideas you need to convey. The biggest mistake people often make when creating a PowerPoint presentation is that they make the slides the focus. Like most responsibilities required to successfully navigate an office environment, making an effective PowerPoint presentation is an acquired skill. A stage manager is also essential to the director in making sure that his vision is carried out in the actual play. But in most cases, try not to get too heavy on the text aspect – let the story you’re telling play off the slides, and keep in mind, as we’ll learn on the next page, seeing is believing. Look at the presentation screen, look at the slow-ticking clock on the wall, look at the presentation screen, look at the beckoning cell phone – resist the temptation to put it on mute and play Angry Birds until the agony of this creeping corporate gathering ends.

To manage the load, the codec reduces the number of video images displayed per second, which makes movement look jerky. HiRISE collects images in three color bands, 400 to 600 nm (blue-green or B-G), 550 to 850 nm (red) and 800 to 1,000 nm (near infrared). Slides should communicate those three simple ideas backed by simple text statements, strong images and graphs. Engage the audience by moving toward and away from them, drawing them in to you, the presenter, and to your work, the PowerPoint slides. The worst thing a presenter can do is to turn around and read from the PowerPoint. Many of you are probably still haunted by high school teachers and college professors who ponderously read almost exactly what was being shown on the screen – whether by an old school projector or on a newer digital medium – without any elaboration or additional scholarly flourishes. Whether you’re a family with young children, a retired couple or a single bachelor, local amenities are important to where you live. You may have to compromise on some of your desires, but just make sure the amenities most important to you are convenient.

If they grasp quite a bit and (better) are already excited to hear what you have to say, then you can delve into more detail. Car maintenance shops can remind customers it’s time for an oil change, while lawn car services can send a message regarding seasonal lawn care. Don’t block the screen too much, even while you pass from one side of the projection to the other. Retired couples, however, may be more attracted to a neighborhood that is devoted to active seniors, or one that is close to family, or even a social club that hosts weekend parties or dances. A young single person with a dog might want a dog park or bike trails within walking distance, plus an active nightlife scene with bars or restaurants close by. For example, if you want to drive home the point that Windows PCs control a large majority of the home computer market, show a pie chart with a huge chunk of the pie filled in with red and the word “PC.” No matter how many stats you quote, this image will get the message home faster and will stick with the audience longer. You want to use meaningful and memorable colors, but you don’t want to get too busy or flashy.

You’ll want to tailor your message and your presentation format based on a number of factors, like the current knowledge level your audience possesses on the topic and how much it engages them. On the flip side, if they know nothing about the topic you’re about to present or (worse) hold doubts they’ll be persuaded by your talk, you’ll want to make sure your PowerPoint is especially straightforward and simple. After all, what could be worse than being single and stuck owning a home in a suburban swim/tennis community filled with families? When he came to the United States, however, he realized that adobe homes weren’t always practical or economical but that elements of the earth could still be used to create a stable home that anyone could afford. This home office from Lobster and Swan is furnished with a simple vintage desk and chair and an Anglepoise desk lamp.